Biedermann Family
Anna Wakulik
'Biedermann Family'
Directed by: Adam Orzechowski
Set design, costumes, lighting direction: Magdalena Gajewska
Music: Marcin Nenko
Choreographic consultation: Maćko Prusak
Cast: Małgorzata Goździk, Marta Jarczewska, Karolina Kleniewska, Monika Kępka, Karolina Łukaszewicz, Filip Jacak, Jakub Kotyński, Artur Majewski, Adam Marjański, Kamil Suszczyk, Arkadiusz Wójcik, Artur Zawadzki
Featuring: Paweł Majchrowski (accordion)
'Biedermann Family' by Anna Wakulik directed by Adam Orzechowski is a performance inspired by the complicated fate of a Łódź industrial family, whose circumstances during the war put them in the most difficult choice...
- As we move through Łódź, we pass places marked by human stories every day. This time, I proposed to Adam Orzechowski and Anna Wakulik, the author of the play, that we refer to the history of the Biedermann family – industrialists who helped create our city. We want to tell the story of Łódź residents who believed in Łódź until the end and were devoted to it – says Ewa Pilawska, the director of Teatr Powszechny in Łódź. – The main characters of Anna Wakulik's play directed by Adam Orzechowski are Bruno, Luiza, and Maryla. Once again, a woman becomes a key figure in Łódź's history – Maryla, who acted in the underground, the Home Army, and fought against the Nazis. The story of the Biedermanns is very complex and multi-layered – she adds.
- The Biedermann family was extremely devoted to Poland. Bruno fought as a volunteer in the Polish army during the Polish-Bolshevik war - in the 28th Kaniowskich Rifle Regiment. After it ended, he was transferred to the reserve with the rank of captain. For his merits for the Second Republic, he was twice awarded the Cross of Merit. I know that the most important distinction for him was the Cross of Valor received for bravery during the defensive war of 1920. Likewise, Bruno's daughter, Maryla, was actively involved in Polish affairs. She was active in the underground movement - the Home Army, in the 'N' cell (counterintelligence), helped the prisoners of Radogoszcz, and in September 1939, she transported the wounded to hospitals. For her activities, she was imprisoned by the Germans in Radom, and later in Łódź – recounts Karol Biedermann, a descendant of the Biedermanns, to Teatr Powszechny in Łódź.
- Bruno Biedermann represented a type of a very well-educated industrialist, after studying abroad, well-prepared to run a business, while also caring deeply for his employees – says director Adam Orzechowski. - The employees of the company said that they were treated by the Biedermanns with great respect, like family. These were different times and the approach of entrepreneurs was different – meanwhile, social care in the Biedermann enterprise was exceptionally developed. For example, when one of the employees had a baby, Bruno would come to the production in a suit (on that day he wore a protective coat), congratulated, presented a box of good cigars and a layette. Some joked - 'too bad it wasn't cigarettes'. Around Christmas and Easter, children's balls were organized for all employees' children with a lottery of gifts – some were stuffed with golden five-zloty coins. I also know of a case when Bruno created a special technical control position for one of the employees (who after breaking her leg at work had trouble moving) to help her keep her job – says Karol Biedermann.
- Bruno, fearing for the life of himself and his family, but also for the fate of the enterprise and his employees, signed the volksliste for the entire family, basically under duress. Bruno, like the family of Paweł Emanuel Biedermann, by signing the volksliste saved their employees, which was proven in a rehabilitation trial. Maryla refused to sign – she did not receive the 'kenkartę'. She only did that later, in prison in Radom, after obtaining special permission from the Home Army command. Maryla was raised in a Polish spirit and considered herself Polish – emphasizes Karol Biedermann. - When the war began, Maryla was 25 years old, she spent two years in prison on Gdańska, escaped from the prison transport in a state of physical exhaustion. Her sister Adalisa left for Munich during the war, but Bruno, Luiza, and Maryla remained in Łódź - and they could have left as well. Why did they stay? Why didn't they want to leave Łódź? We ask these questions and try to answer them – notes Orzechowski.
- In the performance, we are inspired by the story of the Biedermann family, whom we meet at a critical moment – extremely tragic. In a situation where Bruno Biedermann, facing the entry of the Red Army into Łódź and the Soviets taking over the palace (in January 1945), makes the decision to kill his wife, daughter, and himself. It was a no-exit situation. Bruno chose between transferring himself, his wife Luiza, and his seriously ill daughter Maryla to an NKVD camp in Sikawa and dying on his own terms - 'choosing a free death'. He chose a free death. I cannot imagine a situation in which I would have to make such a choice… In the performance, we look at the last hour of the lives of Bruno, Luiza, and Maryla, to symbolically tell about the situation of threat, where war and violence are at the gates, are a real danger – says director Adam Orzechowski.
The performance is recommended for viewers over 16 years of age.
Tobacco products are used in the performance and gunshots are fired.
After the start of the performance, latecomers will be invited to the balcony.
*******
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