On Saturday, 28 November, the play “Saul,” directed by Jacek Głomb, was performed at Concordia Gallery. The performance in Bolesławiec is the result of cooperation between the county authorities and the theatre in Legnica. The invitation to the theatre company from Legnica was the idea of Grzegorz Roman, the coordinator of all cultural projects at Concordia. The County Office also invited the Via Sudetica association to cooperate.
Jacek Głomb gave an interview to the newspaper and website IstotneInformacje.pl, in which he talks about the idea of staging “Saul” – a play about faith, ending with a happy ending, whose director is an atheist who has the right to speak about important matters.
Grażyna Hanaf: – What is the main idea of the performance?
Jacek Głomb: – At the beginning of 1995, we staged “The Passion.” “Saul” is a continuation of that performance. This is the idea behind “Saul” and the Acts of the Apostles. In the first version, the performance was supposed to be staged in churches, but we quickly abandoned that idea. Because churches have a specific audience. There, everything is received on one’s knees, and we do not want to stage performances like that. The play “Saul” takes place in two realities: the period-costume reality (a short prologue) and the contemporary one (in the hall). In a homeless shelter, an illegally occupied abandoned building, where people create their own reality and struggle for faith.
Is it a religious performance?
It is not a nativity-play-style or Radio Maryja-style performance. But it is not intended to provoke either. Matters of faith should be discussed sensibly. In Poland, there are two models of talking about faith: either on one’s knees or with an anti-clerical tint. I am an atheist, but I have the right to speak about important matters together with my company, which also does not go to church very often. But these are sensitive and intelligent people. This is a performance that anyone can watch, from the age of ten to one hundred. It can be understood on a basic level (the plot itself) and on a deeper one (the theological level). I warmly invite priests and nuns as well. Clergy members have attended this performance in Legnica. “Saul” is a simple piece and was chosen for pragmatic reasons. We perform it in seven cities, and each city has a different stage. This performance does not require theatrical machinery; a hall is enough.
Saul – Saint Paul is an interesting figure, but he is always in the shadow of Saint Peter – the rock of the Church…
There is a scene in the performance featuring a duel between Saul and Peter. It is interesting from a theological point of view, but I do not want to act like a know-it-all.
What does “Saul” bring to small towns? Does it have a message?
Hope for a better, more humane world. A just world, friendly to people. I know it is a pipe dream, but I do not care if someone tells me that. I have had cases and audience reactions that confirm that this is how the play is received. But I will not reveal more, because I am not a theologian but a director. I need an intelligent exchange with the audience. I invite you to the performance.
(information by Grażyna Hanaf)