In his Study on Hamlet, Stanisław Wyspiański wrote a memorable sentence: “In Poland the riddle for Hamlet is what there is to think in Poland.” It has become a “winged word”, quoted on many occasions, often in the times that demand solemnity. In the autumn of 2018, the so-called reality makes us ponder upon many issues, which have not concerned us until recently. Of course we say: “we”, “our”, yet we are aware that the common denominator might be misused here. Not everyone seems to agree that the state of affairs is serious. Even if they do, their respond with various forms of escaping responsibility. It may be the main problem tormenting those, who keep thinking about Poland. For example with the assistance of theatre. Through theatre.

Without a doubt politics has become the cause for our concern. One cannot pretend it does not exist. Cannot take on the attitude of “splendid isolation” and claim they do not care about politics. That is, they can, but it should be remembered that politics affects also the lives of those declaring their utter lack of interest for it. Today, when politics has become far more menacing than a routine game of power within a democratic system, we are witnessing the ongoing political actions with fear of what they may lead to. The well-founded question to ask now is whether freedom, the core value, is at stake.

If there exist today thoughts shared by the artists the recipients of art, they must touch upon that specific problem. Does theatre that do not discuss the question of freedom remain free theatre? Can theatre which does not address political issues directly be qualified as political theatre because it may be perceived as political?

In a special discussion with the festival artists we want to deliberate whether today’s reality challenges them in a new way. How do they function under political pressure? What are their ills and fears? What are, in their view, the responsibilities of theatre is such times. In other words: What is there AGAIN “to think” in Polish theatre AD 2018?Łukasz Drewniak, Wojciech Majcherek