Free From Narrowness

Interview with Bartosz Szydłowski, artistic director of the “Divine Comedy” International Festival.

– “Divine Comedy”? The name of the Festival is a direct reference to Dante’s masterpiece...

Bartosz Szydłowski: The “Divine Comedy” is a formidable story about the world and a man lost somewhere inside, trying to find his own way – a metaphor of a spiritual journey and initiation into complete humanity. Is there anything more one could want? Let this extraordinary work be the horizon of our ambitions regarding the programme.

– Apart from enjoying the Polish theatre stage, the audience will also have an opportunity to get to know “our” European cultural circle. What is the Festival’s underlying idea?

– Such a large festival must make up part of a certain framework. The idea is almost the same as the one guiding Dante – to recount the story of man, to lead us through the ups and downs of his existence, as well as highlight his strength and creative power. The broader the setting of the story, the better, as nowadays we cannot do without a voice from outside Europe, letting us spot the extraordinary wealth of thought and feelings found on other continents. Eurocentric for many years, we need to be able to see that we can learn a lot about ourselves from stories written in faraway places. This is why the programme includes shows from Iran, India, Columbia and South Africa. There is also another part of the Festival – a competition for the best Polish performance, judged by the directors of the best festivals in the world. Krakow is about to witness such a “confrontation” for the first time.

– The contemporary philosopher Jean-Luc Marion will be a special guest of the Festival. Why did you choose him?

– We considered ten other people as well, but because of the current economic crisis we had to reduce the programme at the last moment. Many people are willing to come next year though. A meeting of brilliant minds is an opportunity to engage in a wise debate about the current situation of man; it is also a chance to reflect again on the most basic questions about the meaning of our existence. Marion’s ideas revolve around metaphysics and the divine, and the lecture is a counterpoint for the hustle and bustle that surrounds us and drowns us out.

– The shows will be performed not only on theatre stages, but also in clubs or a TV studio. Various places, various audiences. Who is the Festival directed at?

– For sure, it is not only meant for theatre fans. The Festival is supposed to act as a magnet, also attracting those interested in remote cultures, so different from our own traditions. Moreover, it is simply supposed to be a great holiday for everybody who creates and loves the theatre, believing in its magic. In a way, I want the audiences to feel like football fans, see the theatre throbbing with energy and let our guests understand that Krakow’s theatre stage is bursting with life, both from the perspective of actors and audiences. I am convinced that during these December days, it will be the theatre that will set the pace of life in our city. And from New Year’s Eve, the old saying will be slightly changed, this time claiming that “all theatre roads lead to… Krakow.”

– Krakow hosts numerous reviews and festivals; we have the Academy for the Dramatic Arts and flamboyant theatre life. All this notwithstanding, Krakow still seems to remain outside the mainstream. Is the “Divine Comedy” supposed to change that?

– Those who say so are too interested in gossip magazines. Today’s mainstream is soaps and dancing on ice. There was a time when Krakow aspired to be part of this competition, throwing tacky picnic-like parties for barbecue and dumpling lovers. When it comes to the theatre, the city simply lacked a world-class event free from this antique-shop-like narrowness and provincial complex. Something has started happening, so let us stop worrying about who is in front and who is behind us. Let us do our thing!