Krzysztof Warlikowski's project is based on classical and contemporary texts, primarily excerpts from Euripides' Alcestis, the Oresteia by Aeschylus, and Hanna Krall's Apolonia.
The erudite script also includes fragments of Jonathan Littell's Les Bienveillantes, J.M Coetzee's Elizabeth Costello, Marek Edelman's memoirs Love in the Ghetto, Rabidranath Tagore's drama The Post Office, and quotes from Małgorzata Szumowska's film There is Nothing to be Afraid of.
By bringing together these texts, Warlikowski seeks to shed light on the ambiguous and sombre history of sacrifice, and self-sacrifice giving up one's life for another in particular. Stories of mythological characters ruled by Fate are complemented and reflected in twentieth-century experience with its helplessness in the face of the Holocaust. In the act of sacrifice the executioner becomes no less important than the victim.
Creative
Direction: Krzysztof Warlikowski
Adaptation: Krzysztof Warlikowski, Jacek Poniedziałek, Piotr Gruszczyński
Set design: Małgorzata Szczęśniak
Dramaturg: Piotr Gruszczyński
Music: Renate Jett, Paweł Mykietyn, Piotr Maślanka, Paweł Stankiewicz
Musicians: Paweł Bomert, Piotr Maślanka, Paweł Stankiewicz, Fabian Włodarek
Songs: Renate Jett
Lighting design: Felice Ross
Video: Paweł Łoziński, Kacper Lisowski, Rafał Listopad