Impressions of the Playwrights Conference in Obrzycko, Poland, by Ingeborg von Zadow

When I think about the days I spent at the 28. Playwrights Conference that the Centrum Sztuki Dziecka w Poznaniu organized in Obrzycko, I remember an atmosphere of kindness and respect, of interest and curiosity, of patience and time. In the beautiful quietness on the grounds of the Castle of Obrzycko there was plenty of opportunity to discuss the newest issues and developments in playwriting for Children and Young people in Poland. It was a meeting of colleagues, who seemed to have known each other for a long time and at the same time a place for aspiring newcomers. What struck me as absolutely special was the way that all these people, who came from very different places in art and life, listened to each other. With nowhere else to be and no other work to be done, it was possible to concentrate fully on each person who was speaking about their work or presenting something. Quite a lot of people spoke during the program, others were asked to talk about their current projects in the evenings in the casual atmosphere around the fireplace.

Through the lens of Lila Mrowińska-Lissewska’s helpful translation, I was able to follow many of the talks. I found out more about the current situation of theater for Children and Young People in Poland. It was interesting to get a sense of the topics of the presented plays and to get to know the different personalities of the speakers. In individual talks with some of the artists - in English -  I was able to find out more details and to exchange thoughts on theater in general and on the making of plays in specific.

I returned to Germany filled with gratefulness for the more than benevolent reception of my two plays “Komm jetzt geh” (“Chodź teraz idź ”) and “Haus Blaues Wunder” (“Dom Rozwianych Złudzeń” – translation by Lila Mrowińska-Lissewska). Both were wonderfully presented in readings during the conference, the first by the excellent actors of Teatr Nowy in Poznan and the second by the talented grammar school students, whom I had already met during my workshop on playwriting. I would like to thank everyone for their honest interest in my work, for their questions and feedback. It has been wonderful for me to experience once more that my scripts can have an impact in a country other than my own. It shows me that many things can unite us, simply by being human beings, regardless of the differences we might have coming from different countries, languages and lives.

So thank you very much, Zbigniew Rudziński and everyone from the Centrum in Poznan, for this wonderful invitation. It has been a great experience for me.

September 2019