The train and outdoors. An extraordinary journey full of emotion – BiałystokOnline.pl

The expedition begins in the bus. We’re going to Falcon, thence to embark on a long journey. Resembling a dramatic departures in which a hundred years ago went to the inhabitants of the eastern Polish.

Photos: AD

The unusual spectacle opens outdoor wedding scene

“Bieżeńcy. Exodus” is an unusual spectacle. Played on the train and outdoors, and dedicated to the events of a hundred years ago. For then, in 1915, with the German invasion of risk areas and under the influence of Russian propaganda, fled million (mainly Orthodox) people. In a panic, with bundles and children in their arms they set off into the Russian Empire. “Bieżeństwo” – because as they are called these events – not in the history popularized. The memory of the dramatic fate to restore Drama, preparing performative spectacle.

Attack of the Cossacks and vodka at the wedding

So set off on a journey. The sun scorches on the bus – the journey is not to be comfortable. After nearly an hour we reach the Falcon and immediately get to the wedding. Treated to sausage, cucumber, bread and vodka, we feel like on rural fun. But after a while we hear explosions. They attack the Cossacks are wounded and killed. We come to the field hospital. The moment we get on the train. Viewers also can feel bieżeńcy. While still with the attributes of the modern world (“I’m on the play in the theater, here Cossacks attack” – yelling into the phone frantic woman), but with pieces of bread in his hands and tied on the head or shoulders scarves. When shout: “on the ground”, humbly we need to execute the command. The explosions are so powerful that the arms were shaking with fear. Outside the window the corpse is densely. You feel like on a film set. In the car shouting Cossacks and the doctor, who better to give a bribe (not without reason prior to departure, we got a wad of rubles).

Our dream of bieżeństwie

This played only twice (29 and 30 August), a project of the audience makes historical heroes of the game. Not everyone has among the ancestors bieżeńców (through the project I discovered this piece of family history), but no one can remain indifferent to human harm, requests for prayer or crying. Anyone can feel exiled from his home. Not without reason, the project implementers make us march half a kilometer along the tracks and watch the scene to escape and packaging assets to the car.

The originators of the play from the beginning stressed that it was not to be historical reconstruction. In many moments of spectacle, however, it tends in this direction. Bernard Bania (batiushka), Matthew Witczuk (in uniform) and Slawomir Poplawski (doctor) do the job brilliantly, but the accent on the acting side of the project would be located harder. The project was announced as “the dream of bieżeństwie”. Customs idea successful implementation. Depicting the Blessed Virgin, purple robes batiuszki, dancing children. Is this really happening? – You ask. On the other hand – all is possible. The author of the screenplay – Dana Łukasińska – skillfully spread accents, care director Agnieszka spectacle surrounded Korytkowska-Mazur.

“Voluntary escape”?

Finally, we come to the camp, where one of the refugees (Krzysztof Lawniczak) tells his story. He lived in Sokoły, but in 1915 the family had to flee. Mother died on the way, take care of siblings. They came to Orsha, then to Smolensk, trains fled away. The roads did not survive wife and child are buried in the cemetery near the track (the most touching scene of the performance). The question is asked – “or bieżeńcy voluntarily fled or were forcibly expelled?”. One woman says, “I did not want to run away, banished Cossacks us.”

After these dramatic scenes again land in the train. In the background is filtered disturbing music of Michael Jacaszek, bieżeńcy tell their stories, eg. For the funeral of 15-year-old son. At some point, the train enters the Grand Duchess Tatiana (Alexander May), handing out bread and pictures (repeats the question of “bread please, picture please”) with St. Krzysztof. Traveler patron it was in the eastern icons was depicted as a knight with a dog’s head. The finale of our journey is near. We arrive to Moscow (in the project successfully “play” her station in Łapy).

We survived this trip, not only physically, but perhaps above all spiritually. The emotions that triggered the original design are still a long time after leaving the station wagon.