Mickiewicz, although he did indeed contribute to the mythos of the November Uprising with his Reduta Ordona, he did not take part in the independence uprising itself. For this reason, he was tormented by remorse. Several years later, Europe was shaken by the Spring of Nations. This time, the bard decided not to miss the opportunity to act. He went to Rome to form the Polish Legion, a voluntary military unit that could take part in the battles against the Austrians and thus contribute to the restoration of independence.
Mickiewicz's sojourn in Rome is reflected upon by Wyspiański in his Legion, a drama from 1900. In Wyspiański's work, the legion of the title is not only the troop that Mickiewicz seeks to form. The Legion is also a host of deities and demons that the bard has to face.
It is one of the least frequently staged works by the author of The Wedding, perhaps because of the staging difficulties it presents to potential producers. There are many locations for the action, among them the Colosseum and the dome of St Peter's Basilica. In the conditions of the reading, the actors will try to conventionally move to these places and reflect on how Wyspiański grappled with the myth of Mickiewicz and Romanticism in general. The reading will be followed by a discussion with Sabina Brzozowska, PhD (Opole University).
adaptation: Iwona Rusek
This performance will be presented in Polish with no surtitles.