Howard Breton
In Extremis
Reżyseria: Iwona Kempa
Premiere: May 10, 2008
“In Extremis” The story of Abelard and Heloise
Translated by: Krzysztof Puławski
Direction and set: Iwona Kempa
Costumes: Katarzyna Zawistowska
“In Extremis” is a fierce romantic-anarchist tale of love, passion and intellectual rebellion. The action takes place in the twelth century Paris. The two main themes of the play are: the love of Heloise and Abelard and philosophical-religious dispute between Abelard – a medieval logician and theologian – and St. Bernard of Clairvaux, an influential enemy of the intellectual elites. Abelard’s unorthodox religious views lead to a confrontation of both heroes. It results in “war” of personalities, during which the theological debate turns into a deadly game leading to bloodshed. Even today we can her the echoes of this dispute and still ask ourselves questions about the limit of human freedom.
The work of the English playwright is often referred to as political theater. Howard Breton is regarded as a controversial writer, who directly describes his often unpopular and uncomfortable theses in his plays, not dressing them in beautiful words covering the presented truth.
Starring: Maria Kierzkowska, Anna Magalska-Milczarczyk, Ewa Pietras, Matilda Podfilipska, Anna Romanowicz-Kozanecka, Teresa Stepien-Nowicka, Jolanta Teska, Agnieszka Wawrzkiewicz, Richard Balcerek, Mieczyslaw Banasik, Dariusz Bereski, Jaroslaw Felczykowski, Radoslaw Garncarek, Maciejewski Marek Milczarczyk, Thomas Mycan, Niko Niakas, Michal Marek Ubysz, Grzegorz Wisniewski.
Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes (one break)
THE PERFORMANCE WAS AWARDED: a distinction for Sławomir Maciejewski for the role of Bernard of Clairvaux at the Seventh Pre-Premiere Festival in Bydgoszcz (2008); UNC award for the 2007/2008 season for Sławomir Maciejewski for the role of Bernard of Clairvaux.