Spisek smoleński [The Smolensk Conspiracy] references nearly all the theories about the causes of the Polish government plane crash in 2010. These include the completely insane, those alluding to rationality, and those which are directed against the current democratically elected government of the Polish Third Republic. It also takes into account the less vocalised but nonetheless existing opinions about the responsibility of the Polish Fourth Republic ideologists. In the play, Raczak merges some quite contradicting hypotheses about an assassination commissioned by Vladimir Putin, about artificial fog and fake radio beacons, about a secret service conspiracy, the Polish President’s brother’s insanity, and a “thermobaric bomb”, as well as stories about survivors who were murdered at the site of the crash. However, the play is not really about the myths surrounding the Smolensk tragedy but about human attitudes, emotions and views, and about trying to understand their sources.
Lech Raczak is a theatre director, scriptwriter and theatrologist. In 1964, he co-founded and, for many years, co-created Teatr Ósmego Dnia, a legend of Polish alternative theatre. Between 1993 and 2012, he was the artistic director of Malta Festival Poznań. Since 2003, he has been a teacher at the University of Fine Arts in Poznań. In 2012, a three-volume edition of Lech Raczak’s Pisma Teatralne [Theatre Writings] was published. Orbis Tertius is a foundation which supports Lech Raczak’s drama projects and theatre education.
Script, Direction: Lech Raczak
Music: Paweł Paluch
Costumes: Ewa Tetlak
Performed by: Halina Chmielarz, Małgorzata Walas-Antoniello, Wojciech Siedlecki, Janusz Stolarski, Paweł Stachowczyk
Light design: Krzysztof Urban
Première: 26.02.2014Duration: 1h 20min