Classics from the School Reading List

We warmly invite you to a series presenting the most interesting adaptations of school reading materials within Television Theatre. The screenings will be accompanied by discussions of the presented works of culture, led by director Barbara Bendyk. Guests of the lectures will be young creators who are currently making waves on the Polish theatre scene and beginning to define what theatre is and will be for the younger generation in the coming years. Classics from the School Reading List is an opportunity for young creators to talk with young audiences about theatre, the power of art and its influence on our reality.

Using school reading books as a starting point, we will critically examine what in these works remains relevant, what we can take from them, and what no longer translates for young people. We will explore the behind-the-scenes of working in theatre and television theatre from various perspectives — directing, dramaturgy and acting. Why is it worth making and watching art? What significance does theatre have? Why these classics? What inspires young creators and where to find motivation to create?

In Poland, visiting the theatre is often accompanied by stress — that one won’t understand it, that it will be boring, that one must be quiet and not disturb. Our aim is to loosen the atmosphere, gain perspective and show that one can react lively to theatre and discuss it actively; understanding is an individual process and cannot be done wrong. There is no absolute truth or key answer in theatre — there are as many interpretations as there are people in the audience, and all are valuable. The performances will cast new light on school readings, and the conversation afterwards will show how one can play with interpretation.

Producers:

• Barbara Bendyk — a directing student at AST in Kraków; a graduate of painting and experimental film at the Academy of Art in Szczecin. Director, author of texts and painter. Winner of the Grand Prix at the 13th Forum of Young Directing for the play 'Pies'. Her diploma production 'Wyrwa' (a production of Teatr Łaźnia Nowa) was performed, among others, at the Boska Komedia Festival and at the Nowy Teatr in Warsaw. She collaborated on Anna Smolar's production 'Kobieta Samotna'. Her play 'Czas na wielki numer' is currently being shown at the Stefan Jaracz Theatre in Łódź.
• Klaudia Gębska — educated in cultural and media management, tattoo artist, student of theatre studies at Jagiellonian University and directing at the Academy of Theatre Arts in Kraków. An emerging director, dramaturg and playwright. Winner of the main directing award at the 14th Forum of Young Directing for the play 'Pieśni piekarzy polskich', which was produced for Television Theatre; she draws inspiration from people and addresses socially engaged topics.
• Filip Zaręba — a member of the TR Warszawa ensemble since 2025. Graduate of the Academy of Theatre Arts in Kraków. He performed, among others, in the plays 'La Vida Del Pedro' (dir. Ewa Kaim), 'Fortissimo' (dir. Marcin Liber) and in the musical 'Pieśni piekarzy polskich' (dir. Klaudia Gębska), as well as in the series '1670' and the film 'Larp. Miłość, trolle i inne questy' (dir. Kordian Kądziela). He writes songs and sings; he debuted on the TR Warszawa stage in the play 'Trzask Prask' (dir. Krzysztof Zygucki).
• Krysia Bednarek — graduate of the Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw; dramaturg and theatre scholar. She began as an assistant director on Agnieszka Błońska's 'Diabły' (Teatr Powszechny in Warsaw). She worked as co-dramaturg and co-author on Roza Sarkisian's 'Radio Mariia' (Teatr Powszechny). She wrote the play 'Mój anioł stróż już na mnie nie patrzy', staged as part of a residency, and her texts and articles have appeared, among others, in 'Dialog', 'Didaskalia' and 'Krytyka Polityczna'.

Dates (all starting at 11:00):

• 6 March
• 17 April
• 8 May
• 22 May