5^th Edition of the Competition

The aim of the educational and artistic project, like the essence of the activities led by the attending teacher, Michał Łukowicz, PhD, is the multidimensional mental and artistic development of students through preparing a theatrical performance from scratch.

 

In his pedagogical and artistic work, the teacher is particularly focused on presenting the artistic expression of young people on topics that are current, important and problematic for them. The premiere was preceded by months of performance production workshops and solid work with professionals and personalities from the theatre and film arts.

 

The preparation of a visual performance in the form of theatrical performance by students, supported by professional artists, took place in the following cycles:

• THOUGHT – showing the broad possibilities of artistic expression and addressing issues important to young people;
• WORD – thoughts transformed into theatrical expression;
• FORM and /COLOUR – transformation of ideas, thoughts, texts into material forms of artistic expression: scenography, puppet, costumes;
• MOVEMENT – connecting previously developed elements into a coherent artistic expression – rehearsals, art of movement.

 

 

 

Seat The Józef Pankiewicz State High School of Fine Arts in Katowice

 

 

The project began in September 2023. The first meetings with students regarding the project, discussions, exchange of ideas and inspirations took place on 11, 18 and 25 September. On 2 and 10 October, workshops were held with Katarzyna Niedurny, theatre scholar, reviewer, critic, regularly collaborating with dwutygodnik.com and “Didaskalia” Co-author of the Theatre Podcast, Selector of the 22nd Festival of Directing Art “Interpretations”. Workshop topic: “Searching for topics for artistic expression”. At the end of the workshops, the students enriched with knowledge, completed a survey.

 

“They expressed what they liked about the workshops, what their thoughts and expectations are”, says Michał Łukowicz, PhD.

 

On 3 and 16 November, young people participated in workshops with Artur Pałyga, playwright, dramaturg from the Silesian Theatre in Katowice, author of several dozen plays, most of which have been staged. Workshop topic: “What is theatre text and how to write it”. Again, at the end of the workshops, students completed an evaluation survey.

 

On 4 and 17 November, workshops were held with Assoc. Prof. Przemysław Kania, PhD, theatre actor, a habilitated doctor of theatre arts, assistant professor and associate professor at the Acting Faculty at the Wrocław Branch of the Stanisław Wyspiański Academy of Theatre Arts in Kraków. Workshop topic: “The strangest types of theatre – what theatre can and cannot do”. After the workshops, the students completed a survey.

 

On 5 and 27 November, students participated in workshops with Maciej Dziaczko, theatre instructor, art therapist, and director. Workshop topic: “Turning an idea into theatre – searching for the direction of theatrical form”. Students gathered theatrical ideas for the form of the performance.

 

On 6 and 18 January 2024, the project team went on a study visit to the Zagłębie Theatre, where they actively participated in workshops in the sewing room and theatre workshops with actor Michał Bałaga.

 

At the turn of January and February 2024, scenography workshops were also held, where young people created preliminary designs for scenography and costumes under the guidance of experienced set designer Kinga Kostoń-Hayatullah.
The puppet workshop proved very significant and inspiring for students. They independently created one of the characters/puppets that performed in the show.

 

In March and April 2024, students participated in acting and directing workshops with Michał Łukowicz, PhD and Maciej Dziaczko. The series of classes aimed to prepare young actors for performance and create character designs.

 

May and June were devoted by the project team to summarising scenographic projects and purchasing articles for scenography and costumes. In June, a design for posters promoting the performance was created, and the basic script for the performance was written.

 

During the summer holidays, the young people also “lived theatre”. Students searched for scenographic and costume elements to create character narratives and record voices in the school studio in September.
September and October 2024 were spent by the young people involved in the project rehearsing before the premiere of the performance.

 

On 14 and 21 October, two premieres and the project finale took place for the students, school community, parents and Katowice residents.

 

 

 

Surveys:   educational-artistic project “THOUGHT-FORM-MOVEMENT”

 

 

 

Theatre workshops for youth

 

 

 

Theatre workshops for youth

 

 

 

  

A broken ceramic plate symbolising “The Last Museum”

 

 

 

 

Poster for the performance “The Last Museum”, produced by the State High School of Fine Arts in Katowice, as part of the grant of the 5th Edition of the Starak Family Foundation’s “Wena” Grant Programme Competition

 

 

The premiere of “The Last Museum” performance produced as part of the project took place on 21 October 2024. The titular “Last Museum” is a place that has long been needed by no one. Due to liquidation, the last exhibits are presented to viewers.

 

Ms Tereska

Described as “a living CCTV”, she spies on neighbours, reads tabloids, and offers sweets to everyone.

 

 

 

 

Wiesława Giedrojć from the Starak Family Foundation and Michał Łukowicz, PhD, the attending teacher, present “Tereska’s Head” – a puppet made independently by students during puppet workshops as part of the project

 

 

 

Acting etude: MS TERESKA

 

Darek

People assume he is unhappy, seems sad, and his hobby is tedious. But what he does fulfils him entirely. He creates what he wants.

 

 

 

Visual world and acting etude: DAREK

 

Henio

He lives day by day. He has no hope for a better future. The last trace he will leave behind are notes filled with his thoughts.

 

 

 

Acting etude: HENIO

 

Marianna

She is the eldest daughter of King Frederick IV. Her duty is to marry the monarch chosen for her. For this “small” sacrifice, she can live in luxury.

 

 

 

 

Acting etude: MARIANNA

 

 

Ms Agnieszka

At 7:04, she takes her toothbrush, applies toothpaste, and then brushes her teeth for 2 minutes, making circular movements, dedicating 3.75 seconds to each tooth.

 

 

  

Acting etude: MS AGNIESZKA 

 

 

Matylda

Throughout her childhood, she experienced physical and psychological abuse from her father. At the age of 24, she met Piotr in a café, who introduced her to the acting industry and eventually became her husband. When her career gained momentum, her husband proved no better than her father.

 

 

 

Acting etude: MATYLDA

 

Roger

A loner since childhood. He has nothing to say about himself. He works independently and that always suits him best.

 

 

 

The performance was accompanied by a published programme.
The picture shows the figure of ROGER – the loner photographer.

 

 

 

  

ROGER’s photographic workshop

 

 

The Forgotten One

In a world of sharing information, she herself has nothing to share. I don’t know. I forgot. These statements are the only ones echoing in her head.

 

 

 

Scenography for acting etude: THE FORGOTTEN ONE

 

 

 

  

Scenography for acting etude: THE FORGOTTEN ONE

 

 

What will be built in place of the liquidated museum? Of course, a huge shopping centre! In the final scene of the performance, the viewer stands before a mirror and faces the question: And what work of art would you be?

 

 

 

 

Scenography of the final scene of “The Last Museum”

 

 

 

 

Scenography of the final scene of “The Last Museum”

 

 

Team working on the performance: Judyta Malinowska, Jagoda Garbula, Alicja Piskorska, Maja Bednarz, Mateusz Szczęśniak, Julia Klimek, Maja Rybak, Karolina Musiał, Michał Kupczak, Wiktoria Wojciechowska-Mazur, Justyna Zachtej, Emilia Skrzypek, Vladyslava Hrabova, Lena Kopeć, Amelia Próba, Apolonia Gondek, Oliwia Brandt, Zuzanna Jabłońska, Natalia Hrynishak, Lena Rudy, Anna Kroczek, Oliwia Matyja, Emilia Bromboszcz, Julia Piskorz.

 

Supporting ensemble: Maciej Dziaczko – directing supervision, Kinga Kostoń-Hayatullah – scenographic supervision, Jolanta Naczyńska – administrative project supervision, Sonia Przyborowska – administrative project supervision, Joanna Nowrot – school principal.

 

Project originator, Michał Łukowicz, guided the youth through the entire creative process, leaving them autonomy, choice and decision-making. Ultimately, the students created the characters, wrote the script and built the scenography. The artistic form of expression crystallised thanks to knowledge gained through substantively extensive workshops led by professionals – actors, directors, set designers – which resulted in a very interesting response in form and content to the competition question: “What’s new in art?”

 

 

 

Masks – an expressive scenographic element of “The Last Museum” performance

 

 

 

 

 

Acting ensemble of “The Last Museum”

 

 

 

 

Actors shared the experience of creating a professional performance with the audience

  

Wiesława Giedrojć from the Starak Family Foundation congratulated the ensemble for creating the theatrical performance

 

 

 

  

Michał Łukowicz, PhD – proud of his charges right after the premiere of “The Last Museum”

 

 

   

ATTENDING TEACHER

Michał Łukowicz, PhD – teacher of Polish language and philosophy, leads the school theatre club, studying directing in Katowice, doctoral thesis “Humanities without borders”. In 2021, he implemented the project “One View, Different Perspectives”, awarded in the 3rd edition of the “Wena” Grant Programme Competition. In the 6th edition of the “Wena” Grant Programme Competition, he is spearheading the project “Documentary Map of Silesia”.