Renowned Polish actors Piotr Cyrwus and Szymon Kuśmider from Teatr Polski /Warsaw/ bring The Emigrants (a dark comedy by Polish writer Sławomir Mrożek) to Luxembourg for one performance only on 25 Novembe.  Performed in Polish with English subtitles, The Emigrants explores themes of individual power and freedom from the perspective of two characters, an intellectual and a blue collar.

Sławomir Mrożek (1930-2013) is considered one of the greatest Polish dramatist and writer of the 20th century. His theatrical works belong to the genre of absurdist fiction, intended to shock the audience with non-realistic elements, political and historic references, distortion and parody. As one of the leading satiric writers of Europe, Mrożek’s work targeted political and economic systems.

An outspoken critic of communism who vociferously condemned Poland’s part in the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, he emigrated to France from his native Poland in 1968. British journalist Nicholas Lezard called Mrożek’s absurdist parables “by turns hilarious, unsettling and enigmatic.” A year prior to his death, a frail and fragile Mrożek returned to Poland for a short time on a book-signing tour; he was greeted by large crowds of young people, to whom he remains an important and exemplary voice. His most famous play, Tango, is considered by many to be a modern-day Hamlet and has been performed in many Western theaters and by Britain’s Royal Shakespeare Company.

Both Cyrwus, who also directs, and Kuśmider hold MAs in Acting from the Ludwik Solski State Drama School in Cracow and were members of the Helena Modrzejewska National Stary Theatre in Cracow. Each has over 150 credits in theater, radio theater, film and television. Cyrwus has been a member of the Arnold Szyfman Polski Theatre Ensemble since 2011, and Kuśmider has been with the company since 2012 [The Stage Review].

Spectacle is organized by Polska.lu asbl, Polish cultural association in Luxembourg in cooperation with Ancien Cinema asbl and APEEPL asbl and is realized with a support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.

The Emigrants

Dramatist: Slawomir Mrożek, Director: Piotr Cyrwus, Starring: XX: Piotr Cyrwus, AA: Szymon Kuśmider.

Spectacle will be presented in Centre culturel Prince Henri, 3 route de Diekirch, Walferdange.