Polish co-production opens 80th Festival d'Avignon

The 80th Festival d'Avignon, one of the world's oldest and most significant theater festivals, kicked off with a notable co-production from Poland's Boska Komedia/Łaźnia Nowa theater. Historically, Polish artists frequently participate in the festival, but this year's opening featured a Polish-backed production rather than direct performances by Polish artists.

The opening night premiere was "Uma Luz Cordial," the third and final installment of "Trilogia Cadela Força" by Brazilian director Carolina Bianchi. Following previous works that examined sexual violence and the art world's mechanisms, "Uma Luz Cordial" shifts focus to the act of writing itself. Bianchi blurs the lines between theater and literature, centering the performance on the creative process where writing intertwines with sexuality, imagination, and memory.

The production draws inspiration from notes, sketches, and diary fragments, engaging in dialogue with the works of prominent writers like Brazil's Hilda Hilst and Emily Dickinson. The entire 10-hour trilogy is scheduled for presentation on July 12 and 13. Key European institutions and festivals, including the Festival d'Avignon itself, Odéon–Théâtre de l'Europe, and Holland Festival, are among the co-producers.

Bartosz Szydłowski, artistic director of the Boska Komedia Festival, expressed pride in the collaboration, highlighting it as recognition of their "brand" and his leadership. He believes Boska Komedia's involvement in significant international cultural events strengthens the position of Polish theater globally. This year's festival, themed "Under the Flag of Questions," also features South Korea as the guest of honor, with performances by Jak Koo, including "Haribo Kimchi," another co-production with Boska Komedia/Łaźnia Nowa.

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Boska Komedia coraz częściej jest zapraszana do współpracy przy prestiżowych produkcjach na świecie. – mówi Bartosz Szydłowski, dyrektor artystyczny Festiwalu Boska Komedia. – W zeszłym roku byliśmy koproducentem spektaklu Florentiny Holtzinger. W tym roku „Uma Luz Cordial” Caroliny Bianchi będzie miał swoją premierę w dniu otwarcia Festival d'Avignon. To jest oczywiście wyraz uznania dla naszej marki i wyraz zaufania do mnie jako dyrektora artystycznego festiwalu. Uważam, że obecność Boskiej Komedii w międzynarodowym obiegu ważnych wydarzeń kulturalnych wzmacnia pozycję polskiego teatru, który nadal pozostaje głównym elementem programu naszego festiwalu.