• Marszałkowska 8

4.48 Psychosis

dir.Grzegorz Jarzyna
  • Director

    Grzegorz Jarzyna

  • Premiere

    February 8, 2002 in Polish Theatre in Poznań;
    February 22, 2002 in TR Warszawa

  • Duration

    1 hour (no intermission)

  • Tickets

    The starting price of a ticket on the first day of sale will be 40 PLN, depending on attendance, the price can reach a maximum of 150 PLN.
    Concessionary ticket: 45 PLN

Attention!

The performance includes some nudity.

About the performance

Based on the Sarah Kane’s “4.48 Psychosis”

One of the most important plays in Polish theatre after the year 2000. Grzegorz Jarzyna’s performance based on a British playwright – Sarah Kane’s drama is a journey into the psyche of a young woman suffering from depression, who decides to end her life. Medical diagnoses occur here next to declarations of love, psychologist’s advice collide with biblical paraphrases and visions of God.  

The performance does not portrait the process of dying but rather a heroic battle for life, that the heroine is fighting in the face of an indifferent world. Sarah Kane’s play is interpreted as the literary last will of the author who committed suicide in 1999, at the age of 28. “4.48 Psychosis” is her final scream, a cry for help directed at those who can offer it. 

Magda Cielecka’s acting is the performance’s great asset. She transcends theatrical conventions and shows the heroine’s drama in a poignant and intimate manner. 

For organized post-gymnasium school groups we offer introductory workshops to the performance (please contact the education department edukacja@trwarszawa.pl for more details).

Project coproduced by TR Warszawa and Polish Theatre in Poznań.

Cast

Magdalena
Cielecka

Katarzyna
Herman

Rafał
Maćkowiak

Lech
Łotocki

Adam
Woronowicz

Jadwiga
Turek

Lila
Maćkowiak

Creators

adaptation and direction: Grzegorz Jarzyna

translation: Klaudyna Rozhin

set design: Małgorzata Szczęśniak

music: Piotr Domiński / Paweł Mykietyn / Grzegorz Jarzyna

lighting design: Felice Ross

computer graphics: Marcin Wiktorowski

Gallery

01

photos: Stefan Okołowicz

Reviews

  • “It is a beautifully sculpted production, eloquently lit by Felice Ross, framed by Malgorzata Szczesniak’s depressing, institutional set, and driven by a superb, lacerating performance from Magdalena Cielecka (..).”

    Sarah Hemming, Financial Times

  • “TR Warszawa’s phenomenal adaptation of Sarah Kane’s moving and extremely powerful ‘4.48 Psychosis’ is a frank and all-too-true insight into the desperation of a tragically tortured mind. The production is also perfect with respect to actor’s performance, set design and, above else, simply extraordinary realism. In addition to the unparalleled acting of Cielecka and the supporting cast, the director’s use of stage language really does astound.”

    Scott Clair, The Herald

  • “This Polish production by Grzegorz Jarzyna and TR Warszawa, staged here within the frame of Edinburgh International Festival, is the first one that treats this drama as an excruciating autobiography. While it may sound exploitative, it makes for thrilling theatre.”

    Michael Billington, The Guardian

Awards

  • Herald Angel Award

    Herald Angel Award granted to Magda Cielecka for her roles in “4.48 Psychosis” and “Dybbuk” at the Edinburgh International Festival.

Tours

Open’er Festival, Gdynia (1-4.07.2015)

40th Hong Kong Arts Festival, China (22-25.02.2012)

Barbican Theatre, within the frame of Polska!Year, London (23-27.03.2010)

Edinburgh International Festival (15-17.08.2008)

Festival Scenes Etrangeres, Lille (14-15.05.2004)

Meyerhold’s Center, Moscow (14-15.11.2003)

Klaudyna Rozhin’s (the translator) copyrights are represented by Agencja Dramatu i Teatru ADIT

Patrons