The Polish Cultural Institute of New York, the Yale Repertory Theatre, and the World Performance Project at Yale present the US premiere of Wormwood by Theatre of the Eighth Day (Teatr Ósmego Dnia) of Poznań on November 5-7 at 8:00 pm at the Frederick Iseman Theater -1156 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT For tickets: (203) 432-1234.
Related programs, Free and open to the public are: a lecture The Poetics of “Going against the Tide”: 45 Years of the Theatre of the Eighth Day on Monday, November 2, 5:30-7:00 pm at the Whitney Humanities Center and a workshop with the company on November 3, 6:00-8:00 pm at the Theater Studies Ballroom.
In New York City, as part of Performing Revolution in Central and Eastern Europe, a performing arts festival marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of Communism in Central and Eastern Europe, The Polish Cultural Institute and the Abrons Arts Center will present the New York premiere of Wormwood on November 11-15 - performances are at 8:00 PM, except Sunday at 3:00 PM at the Abrons Arts Center, Henry Street Settlement - 466 Grand Street, New York, NY. For tickets: 212.352.3101 or abronsartscenter.com
Founded in 1964, the legendary Theatre of the Eighth Day was one of the most uncompromising theater groups in Communist Poland and remains just as uncompromising today. The revival of their celebrated production Wormwood, with the original cast was first presented in Poland in 1985. It was famously banned at the time because of its open and frank depiction of life in Poland during Martial Law. The Polish Communist Party shut down the production, and the would-be audience was met by a police barrier at the scheduled premiere. The ensemble outwitted local party officials and the police by organizing a secret premiere the following day at a different time in the same location. Performances in churches and clubs of the independent culture circuit in many Polish cities, followed.
Wormwood will be performed in Polish with English supertitles. Wormwood has a running time of approx. 60 min., and each performance is followed by a talk back with the artists.
