On 21 March unknown assailants are carrying out a terrorist attack on the National Stary Theatre in Krakow. This new act of violence, this tragedy, carries decisions that will change the course of Polish history for good.

The theme of Jakub Skrzywanek’s new play is mourning, the emotions that come with it, and modern techniques used by politicians to manipulate our fears and the overall societal need to feel secure. Can we avoid transforming a single event into mass trauma of collective memory shut up in museum showcases for centuries? Can we step outside a Poland that is weary and tortured, a captive of the past? The subject of this performance is also theatre itself.

Who is a terrorist in the theatre, and who is a hostage?

What place does theatre hold in shaping the collective consciousness?

Might it yet reverse the course of history?

“Attack on the National Stary Theatre” is a remarkable journey through time, a compelling chase after a different story. Despite the title and the gravity of the topic, the play is beautiful and lively. The director surprises us with a combination of visual flair, intimate testimony, and elemental theatre.