• Out of repertoire

Maria Klassenberg. Ecstasies

dir.Katarzyna Kalwat
  • Director

    Katarzyna Kalwat

  • Dramaturgy

    Beniamin Bukowski

  • Duration

    1 h (no intermission)

  • Tickets

    50 PLN – regular 

    30 PLN – concessionary 

    30 PLN – rush

About

A theatre production-performance-exhibition built around the biography and art of Maria Klassenberg, a forgotten contemporary artist. At an opening of an exhibition of her works, the artist confronts her personal history of the relationship with her daughter. Her works in the form of recorded performances, objects and installations create the context. “Maria Klassenberg. Ecstasies”is a theatre installation designed to be presented in a gallery space.

Voices of the artist and her daughter – a personally invested observer, create a multidimensional portrait of a 20th century artist left unmentioned by the art history textbooks. An additional context is added by the commentary from an art critic.

An exhibition of Maria Klassenberg’s archive created by Aneta Grzeszykowska in cooperation with Jan Smaga will accompany the presentation of the performance. The performance space will be, at the same time, an independent exhibition space open for the public before and after the performances.

Production: TR Warszawa

Cooperation: The Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art

The performance is presented in The Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary (2 Jazdów Str., Warsaw) in the Workshop hall

The performance is recommended for adult audience.

Creators

direction and concept: Katarzyna Kalwat

text and dramaturgy: Beniamin Bukowski

set, costume and lighting design: Anna Tomczyńska

music: Wojtek Blecharz

director’s assistant and stage manager: Karolina Gębska

cooperation: Anna Grzelewska, Joanna Zielińska

Maria Klassenberg’s Archive (concept, script, development): Aneta Grzeszykowska

cooperation: Jan Smaga

performers (Maria Klassenberg’s Archive): Anna Rutkowska, Wojciech Żera

live performers: Natalia Kalita, Urszula Kiebzak

production manager: Marta Kuźmiak

guest appearance: Anda Rottenberg

Gallery

01

Tomasz Urbanek photo

Reviews

  • “‘Maria Klassenberg doesn’t exist. She never did.’ – announces Urszula Kiebzak in her final monologue. […] director gives the floor to an actress who puts herself somewhere beside the role and exposes the reliances that rule the institution she works in. The reason behind the creation of Maria’s character is revealed. It’s a very important reason, difficult to downplay, because brings up the issue of the presence of female voice in the public space.”

    Marcin Miętus, Dialog

  • “Maria Klassenberg is the most radical creator of Polish or maybe even global contemporary art. She is a fantasmatic persona with a made-up archive.”

    Agata Adamiecka-Sitek, Dwutygodnik.com

  • Photos from Maria Klassenberg’s Archive, prepared an documented by Aneta Grzeszykowska.

Cooperation

  • The Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art

Patrons