CLOSER TO THE CLOUDS. I'LL BE BACK SOON

in the director of Ewy Konstancji Bułhak

Premiere 22 January 2022. Academy of Theatre in Warsaw

Diploma performance by fourth-year students of acting, specialising in acting and vocalism

Before the premiere, I talked to Zuzanna Galewicz, an actress in the play:

Tomasz Ostrowski: In the play, you play the role of Patapapai. Who is this character?

Zuzanna Galewicz: Patapapaja is a combination of two words. The first part, "pata," is short for the name Patrycja, and "papaja" means papaya, like the fruit. It's a nickname that my character uses online. 

In the play, do you and the group of six women meet on the rooftop of a building?

Yes, my character films her vlogs up there. It's a place she's been to before because she's one of the few who knows the rooftop well. She comes there to do her job, to perform her show, which she later shares on the internet.

So, does that mean you're the host of this rooftop?  

No, that's probably too much to say. I know the rooftop, and I do feel comfortable there. It feels like home to me. But Patapapaja is also very surprised that when she goes up to that rooftop, she encounters five other women.

A chance meeting? 

Yes, a chance meeting of six women. Each has her own path, and all six women happen to be on that rooftop at the same time. They are all surprised by the presence of others. Each has her "moment" when she comes there, takes a moment for herself. She doesn't see the rest of them, and then they start to realize the situation: "I guess I'm not alone here. Besides me, there are other women here too. I wonder what they have to say." But each of us has our five minutes of being alone with ourselves.

During these personal moments, do you sing songs in addition to delivering monologues?

Yes, during those moments, we sing songs and deliver our monologues. After the monologues, it suddenly turns out that there are five other women here. They saw us, observed us, and then there's a response in group songs and dance routines. That's when they truly come together on that rooftop and suddenly discover their female strength. Is it a collective performance? 

Is it a collective performance?

Actually, we all have equal roles and tasks.

Will this be your first performance?

I'm also performing in the play "Masara" based on Szczepan Twardoch's story. You can see the play at the Collegium Nobilium AT Theater. I did this play in 2019 with my fellow students from the second year of the drama theater acting program: Magdalena Kekenmeister and Jakub Pruski. We actually workshopped this play in our first year. It turned out to be quite good since we've been performing it for almost four years now. The next performances of "Masara" will probably be in May. Masari.

You met Ewa Konstancja Bułhak for the first time during the production of the play "BLIŻEJ CHMUR. ZARAZ SPADAM"?

We met for the first time during our third year in music classes. We were working on songs from Kabaret Starszych Panów.

I have been observing a trend recently that repertory theatres are increasingly inviting Theatre Academy productions to their stages. On the stage of the National Theatre as part of the Young Stage we have seen: "Lunapark. Songs by Grzegorz Ciechowski" directed by Anna Sroka-Hryń, Exercises from "The Wedding" directed by Wojciech Malajkat and 'Stone' produced under the artistic supervision of Wojciech Malajkat. The repertoire of Teatr Współczesny in Warsaw includes the play "And the planets are going crazy... (Youth in tribute to Kora)". directed by Anna Sroka-Hryń. In turn, TR Warszawa's repertoire includes The Club directed by Weronika Szczawińska. Do you think your play has a chance of being seen in one of the public theatres?   

I don't know; it's hard to say, but it would be wonderful. I think there is a chance. I hope we will be noticed, and our work will be appreciated. That would be beautiful. 

I sincerely wish you that. Thank you for the conversation.

Thank you

CAST:
The Bride - Aleksandra Ożóg
Madam Commander - Anna Grochowska
Queen – Katarzyna Kanabus
Lola – Pola Gonciarz
Patapapaya – Zuzanna Galewicz
Angel – Ada Szczepaniak

CREATIVES:
lyrics, script and direction: Ewa Konstancja Bułhak
music composition: Olga Lisiecka
musical direction: Urszula Borkowska
choreography: Patrycja Grzywińska
sets and costumes: Marzena Wodziak
visualization: Maria Matylda Wojciechowska
director of lights: Paulina Góral