A4 – space for contemporary culture invites you to experience a new play by the Polish Theatre of Dance in the end of October. The performance Harvest is inspired by both traditional rituals and classical Polish literature. In the scenes of Harvest the influences of folk culture and art of geniuses of literature overlap organically through movement, music and vocals.
Polish Theatre of Dance was established in 1973 as a professional autonomous artistic collective which had developed its expression in different genres ever since – from ballet spectacles to contemporary dance theatre characterized by overlapping and connecting technical and stylistic borders. Polish Theatre of Dance had freed itself from the traditional means of expression and methods and gave chance to interdisciplinary approaches, using abandoned theatre spaces and creative use of improvisation as a tool. The performance Harvest follows a tradition of PTD and connect the contemporary culture (and music) with traditional rituals and its choreography, classic literature and language. Different shades of Polish culture and imagination and motives of folklore culture are intertwining with master works of Polish literature.
Harvest examines the rites derived from cycles of agricultural work, nature and human life and offers ethnographic and anthropological and philosophical layers and dimensions. The play is inspired by the work of Oskar Kolberg or by Polish Year Poľský Žofia Kossaková while the main storyline is built on the return of Odysseus according to Homer’s epic and the play Return of Odysseus by Stanisławy Wyspiańsky.
The artists of the Polish Theatre of Dance and their guest actor will explore different varieties of the plot – in movement and speech. Intense physical and psychological activities of the protagonists are composed and contrasting with the ascetic setting of the play. The performance is directed by Igor Gorzkowsky and choreographed by Iwona Pasińska complimented by music compositions by Eugeniusz Rudnik, one of the founders of POlish electronic music, with vocals by Adam Strung.
Harvest was premiered as a part of “207 The Year of Sorceres” in Polish Theatre of Dance – which was a year during which PTD focused on tradition, rituals, believes, myths, superstitions and witchcraft. The presentation of performance Harvest is made possible with the financial support of the Ministry of culture and national heritage of Polish Republic as a part of program of Adam Mickiewicz Institute named Cultural Bridges, which includes performances in five capitals Berlin, Minsk, Vilnius, Riga and Bratislava.