The premiere of the play which had been prepared in cooperation with W. Bogusławski Theatre took place in Kalisz where the theatre is situated. Peter Weiss’ play "Martyrdom and death of Jean Paul Marat performed by a group of actors from Charenton alms-house run by Mr. de Sade" will appear on stage of the Studyjny Theatre in Łodz in February.

- In Kalisz we feel we’ve been taken care of. We thrive on the energy of the new place and the new people. It’s been very stimulating. – says  Michał Barczak, an acting student performing the part of the Caller.
Thirteen fourth year students, who are engaged in the play directed by Rudolf Zioło, have been working at the W. Bogusławski Theatre since last December, however the first rehearsals started already in Lodz three months ago. 
– Talks, talks, and more talks. We devoted nearly two months to the so called table rehearsals. We have been fully prepared by the director to go on stage and perform – reveals Michalina Rodak playing Simona Evrard in the play "Marat/Sade".

The work on the play based on Peter Weiss’ text is the first opportunity for the students to perform in a real theatre and the first cooperation with such an experienced director.– The director has provided us with lots of information about what we are, why we perform on stage and what we say. This gives us a sense of security and opens us to the profession. Besides, the director has been very supportive and reassuring –admits Patryk Palusiński, who plays Jean Paul Marat.
Paweł Dobek, performing the part of de Sade, points out a great professional experience of Rudolf Zioło – We’ve been working with a director, who has worked in theatres around the world. He treats us as individuals and tries to reach us using different means and lead us along our individual paths. At the same time our contacts are not limited by working hours. We just meet and talk about everything. Each of the conversations evolves around the play.

This demanding and highly evaluated text of the play, which was staged for the first time in 1964, allows the actors to flourish on stage. : the action of the play is run at different levels from different time perspectives  with  the main frame of the play being a show produced by the patients of a lunatic asylum  in Charenton, France. The show is  filled with ideological conflict between the characters of de Sade’a and Jean-Paul Marat.
– I’ve always wanted to play a lunatic and my wish has come true. – says jokingly Patryk Pietrzak – Jakub Roux in the play "Marat/Sade".

Paweł Dobek - de Sade – points out the significance of the message the actors provide the audience with. – We present two opposite characters and their attitudes: de Sade who is a hedonist, who primarily and entirely cares about himself. Marat, a martyr prepared to sacrifice himself for the nation, believes that he can defeat all the existing evil. – Both of them follow some ideas which are completely different.  Thus, the message conveyed by the play is  a number of questions: who are we? What do we oppose? What is our aim?

- Profesor Orłowski used to say, that each performance is yet another rehearsal. This also applies to a premiere, I guess. - says Patryk Palusiński – Marat before the dress rehearsal.
Paweł Dobek also explains the significance of the fact that the premiere is taking place in Kalisz and not in the Studyjny in Lodz. – It’s going to be a real test for us. The audience in Studying theatre consists mostly of people who favour us being our friends, fellow students, etc. Here there will be anonymous theatre goers who will evaluate us objectively.

photo: Mikołaj Zacharow