- It was our dream to work with the master of Polish musical, Wojciech Kościelniak. We are happy that all the students in our year have this opportunity – says Basia Wypych, fourth year acting student. It is a great challenge for the students to perform in a musical. Which after all is a specific kind of play. – The hardest thing about it is to combine choreography and the vocal side on one hand and acting on the other. Great physical stamina is required accompanied by concentration on the text, music and the elements of choreography. And on top of that there is a responsibility for the final performance of 10 people on stage. – adds Karolina Krawczyńska, an acting student and Wojciech Kościelniak’s assistant. Basia Wypych mentions the physical aspect of the play preparation – Most choreography involves more that a dozen people, which requires high precision and care in order to perform all the steps and figures simultaneously and well.

Wojciech Kościelniak is not only the director of the musical but also the author of the stage adaptation of Lem’s short stories „Cyberiada”. – „Cyberiada” seems to be a very good literary source for musical adaptations. Although it deals with meanderings of human existence, it remains positive, cheerful and full of energy, which is characteristic of musicals. – says Wojciech Kościelniak, a theatre and musical director and an actor, who directed musical adaptations of e.g. Bolesław Prus’ „The Doll”, Władysław Reymont’s „Promised Land” at the Słowacki Theatre in Cracow, Fiodor Dostojewski’s - „Idiot” at the ”Capitol” Music Theatre in Wrocław as well as classical musicals such as Leonard Bernstein’s „West Side Story”, Galt MacDermot’s „Hair” (at the Music Theatre in Gdynia) and a trans-opera based on Shakespeare’s „The Midsummer Night’s Dream” with music by Leszek Możdżer. – For sure, his authority makes us nervous. From the start each of us subconsciously struggles to demonstrate their talent. Luckily, we were quickly persuaded by him not to act like that. – adds Karolina Krawczyńska.

- When „Cyberiada” is properly adapted for stage it allows young people who are full of energy, joy of life and sense of humour to fully express themselves. Besides, perceiving the world the way it really is should not deprive us from having fun – says Wojciech Kościelniak about his work at the Studyjny Theatre. What’s more, for the students it’s a unique opportunity to get acquainted with samples of literary creation of Stanisław Lem, the master of science-fiction. The pre-premiere performance of the musical has been scheduled for 27 February at the Lodz Studyjny Theatre. Performers: Adrian Budakow, Paulina Nadel, Karolina Krawczyńska, Maria Szafirska, Grzegorz Otrębski, Michał Jóźwik, Sebastian Jasnoch, Barbara Wypych, Jędrzej Wielecki, Sylwia Madejska, Alicja Juszkiewicz, Marta Herman, Kaja Walden, Marcin Miodek, Mikołaj Chroboczek, Damian Kret, Anita Tomczak.

Studyjny Theatre repertoire and other information to be found at: www.teatrstudyjny.lodz.pl