Lesser Poland Voivodeship Board of Education head Barbara Nowak on Tuesday publically advised against taking school students to see Adam Mickiewicz's "Forefather's Eve" at the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Kraków. On Wednesday, Poland's Education Minister Przemysław Czarnek backed Nowak in her criticism of the play directed by Maja Kleczewska.
"Forefather's Eve" directed by Maja Kleczewska, hailed as the most important openings of the season, premiered on November 18 at the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Kraków. What makes it different from classic adaptations of Adam Mickiewicz's poetic drama, is that the part of Konrad is played by a woman - actress Dominika Bednarczyk.
On Tuesday (November 23), chairwoman of the Board of Education for Lesser Poland Voivodeship Barbara Nowak issued an official statement in which she "strongly advises against sending school children to this spectacle".
She argues that the proposed content does not fall into the scope of goals outlined in the education law. The education board chief also said on Twitter that "it's a disgrace to use works of national poet A. Mickiewicz in the political fight between Polish anti-government opposition and Poland's national interest".
The theatre has issued a statement expressing astonishment with Barbara Nowak's words.
Poland's Minister of Education and Science Przemysław Czarnek backed Nowak on Wednesday and thanked her for "her reaction, as we cannot remain silent in the face of marring of beauty and desecration of art". He also called the play "trash", for which he received applause from the audience at the Classic Education Congress in Warsaw.
Juliusz Słowacki Theatre has said in a statement that "theatre is a space for contact and dialogue". "We deeply believe that exactly by staging such plays, by watching, discussing, and even arguing over them, we create a common space for mutual understanding and empathy. That is why we warmly invite everyone to see 'Forefather's Eve'" - the theatre added.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, tvn24.pl