Gala Concert: May Your Days Be Fine

A concert with songs by Jacek “Budyń” Szymkiewicz, the leader of the Pogodno band. A moment of joyful forgetfulness, a bit of comfort and hope, which we all need

Written and directed by: Marcin Liber, assistant director: Maciej Ćwieluch, musical direction, arrangements: Marcin Macuk, set design, soloists’ costumes, video, lighting: Mirek Kaczmarek,  costumes of the choir and musicians: Grzegorz Więckowski, assistant set design: Grzegorz Więckowski, choreography: Hashimotowiksa – Paulina Jaksim, Katarzyna Kulmińska

Cast: Jacek Beler, Rafał Derkacz, Ralph Kaminski, Tomasz Leszczyński, Marta Malikowska, Katarzyna Pietruska, Bartosz Porczyk, Albert Pyśk, Cezary Studniak, Helena Sujecka, Emose Katarzyna Uhunmwangho, Klaudia Waszak

and
Capitol Musical Study Choir: Zofia Banasik, Natalia Banaś, Anna Boratyńska, Julia Czarnota, Magdalena Gurzyńska, Julia Kirklewska, Anastasiia Kohut, Helena Kosecka, Wiktoria Łukowicz, Patrycja Spendowska, Joanna Szczecińska, Julia Wrona, Krzysztof Gogoj, Artur Leżoń

Musicians: Michał “Hałdy” Pfeif (bass), Jarosław “Dżekson” Kozłowski (drums), Paweł “Model” Osicki (drums), Antoni “Ziut” Gralak (trumpet), Dariusz “Spyra” Sprawka (trombone), Marcin “Dzidzia” Zabrocki (keyboards, saxophone), Marcin Bors (guitar), Leszek “Fochmann” Golis (guitar), Piotr “Bajzel” Piasecki (guitar)

Producer: Renata Majewska

Jacek Szymkiewicz – Budyń – one of the most original figures in Polish pop music, an outstanding multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, died suddenly and prematurely in April last year. Just two weeks earlier he played a concert at our festival club. It was our last meeting with him. And then, we knew right away that this year’s gala had to feature his songs.

– In these times, in our times of crisis, inflation, climate catastrophe, war, terror and pandemic, we need encouragement and hope. We need serenity, joy and happiness, at least for a while.

– May your days be fine. We bring you forgetfulness. Invited artists, actors and musicians, like a band of carefree children or an ancient chorus, the chorus of monks from Peter Barnes’ drama “The Red Noses”, will be forced to make you laugh.
They will be your clowns. The clowns out of this world. An order of laughter, says Marcin Liber, the gala’s director.