Two Swords

dir.Grzegorz Jarzyna
  • Directed by 

    Grzegorz Jarzyna

  • Premiered

    December 20-21, 2017 (Beijing, China)

About

“Two Swords” is the first Grzegorz Jarzyna’s premiere produced in China with an international group of actors and actresses from China, Poland and the United States. The script is based on a story by Lu Xun, one of the most important Chinese writers and essayists of the first half of the 20th century. Written in 1926, the story is a variation on the ancient Chinese myth of a sword-maker murdered by the order of the king and of the sword-maker’s son who wants to avenge his father’s death. In this symbolic story Xun asks about the price of exposing the truth and shows the sacrifice required when one fights for justice.

Grzegorz Jarzyna delves into Chinese mythology in search of values that have been forgotten in today’s world. “This play is a result of my fascination with Asia, its spirit and way of thinking. I am interested in the history of China, especially those moments when the Chinese were able to overcome a crisis and turn it into an asset. “Two Swords” are close to the concept of the eternal return, which has been present for centuries in the European philosophy. My idea is to follow Lu Xun on a journey into the Chinese system of values, to search for some answers to the questions about the potential for change. Is a revolution of values possible in our troubled modern world?”

The performance is produced by Propel Performing Arts&Media Co. Ltd. and coproduced by  TR Warszawa

Cast

Mo Ye (the young one), Girl, Mei Jian Chi, Courtroom guard

Gao
Xiaoxi

King

Lech
Łotocki

Midwife, guard, minister

Liu
Shuwen

Gan Jiang, The Provocateur, Joker

Liu
Yang

Mei Jian Chi, Boy, Courtroom guard

Qiang
Guoming

Mei Jian Chi, Boy, Courtroom guard

Ran
Song

Queen, Leader

Seetoo
Chiayi

Mo Ye

Shi
Ke

Yan Zhi’ao

Sweft
Washington

Mei Jian Chi, Boy, Guard

Wang
Wei

The Sword Swallower

Zhu
Lin

Guqin musician

Qiu
Tong

Creators

direction, set design, script, co-author of the text: Grzegorz Jarzyna

co-author of the text: Weronika Murek

costume design: Anna Axer Fijałkowska

choreography: Ivan Estegneev

composer: Piotr Kurek

lighting design: Aleksandr Prowaliński

video: Marta Nawrot, Mateusz Świderski

artistic calligraphy: Yang Xiaojian

sound design: Piotr Domiński

sword fight instructor: Liu Quanhua

translation of the script: Joanna Krenz

graphics: Grzegorz Laszuk

Gallery

01

fot. Yue Yuzhang

Partners

  • production: Beijing Propel Performing Arts & Media Co., Ltd.
    coproduction: Shanghai Theatre Academy, TR Warszawa

Patrons