The Haunted Manor

The Helena Modrzejewska National Stary Theatre in Krakow

PPA production: Małgorzata Stobiecka

direction: Anna Obszańska
dramaturgy: Maciej Podstawny
music: Małgorzata Penkalla
set design: Jan Baszak
light design: Jędrzej Jęcikowski
costumes: Mateusz Jagodziński
stage manager: Hanna Nowak

Cast: Ewa Kolasińska, Beata Malczewska, Paulina Kondrak, Krzysztof Globisz, Adam Nawojczyk, Łukasz Szczepanowski, Błażej Peszek, Ignacy Sokół, Stanisław Sokół, Karol Wilk (duplicate role)

The first patriotic horror in history, an opera of terror, a national séance, a museum of Polish martyrdom where family portraits and keepsakes stir to life and haunt the living.

After yet another war fought for his homeland, Zbigniew comes back to his ancestral home. His older brother Stefan, a battle-scarred veteran and a guardian of Polish identity, awaits him. The manor is also inhabited by Miecznik — the Sword-Bearer, his eligible daughter, Klucznik — the Key-Bearer, Cześnikowa — the Cupbearer’s Wife, and a faithful old servant. The house stands fortified behind a heavy gate, every detail in place as tradition demands. With just one difference: everyone is already dead.

Apart from Moniuszko’s arias and ensembles, the actors do not speak a single word, leading the audience through a macabre yet beautiful museum of Polish suffering. What haunts The Haunted Manor today? Can a society with war inscribed in its genetic memory develop defense mechanisms against today’s threats? What are we so afraid of?