TR Warszawa premiered “Power Play“ – a new international co-production with Sirenos Festival
2026 April 29
“Power Play” premiere | Photo by Adrian Lach
On April 24, 2026, TR Warszawa premiered “Power Play“, a new international co-production created together with Lithuanian Sirenos Festival, Dublin Theatre Festival (Ireland), and the International Festival of Theatre for Children and Youth “Korczak Today“.
Directed by Melbourne-based artist Samara Hersch, “Power Play“ is a performance created by children and adults, but it does not tell the story of childhood. Instead, it examines adulthood as a process of taking on roles shaped by unclear and often elusive rules.
In the performance, children share the stage with actors and actresses from TR Warszawa. Together they experience the taste of power, its sweetness and excitement, while also confronting its fragility, fear, and betrayal. The script is loosely inspired by Janusz Korczak’s novel “King Matt the First“.
“Power Play” premiere | Photo by Adrian Lach
Samara Hersch is an artist working between Europe, Australia, and Asia, whose projects combine contemporary theatre with social action. Her practice explores relationships between people, including intergenerational connections, and their significance in a broader social context.
“As children (and adults), we are often very preoccupied with the issue of power, whether we realize it or not. Children have very little of it. We, the adults, set the rules, but we must also grapple with responsibility and come to terms with vulnerability, sometimes even powerlessness,” says Samara Hersch.
“Children can help us better understand this process by provoking us to confront ourselves, reflect, and imagine other possibilities,” she adds.
“Power Play” premiere | Photo by Adrian Lach
The performance is intended for both adults and children and operates on different levels for both groups. It invites audiences to consider: what is the difference between raising a child and shaping society? How can we allow children to remain “innocent and free“, and who will pay the price for this freedom?
Cast:
Dobromir Dymecki / Sebastian Pawlak
Monika Frajczyk
Maria Maj
Tomek Tyndyk
Children (rotating): Lea Fabiś, Vincent Kalita-Orcari, Alicja Malczewska, Łucja Moraczewska, Klara Olszewska, Aurelia Pawlak, Nina Rogacka, Olivia Strzępka
Creative team:
Concept and direction: Samara Hersch
Dramaturgy and script: Szymon Adamczak
Dramaturgy, curation: Marta Keil
The script incorporates improvisations from the entire cast – both children and adults
Associate artist and video direction: Solomon Thomas
Stage design and costumes: Marta Szypulska
Music: Karol Nepelski
Conceptual collaboration: Aaron Orzech
Lighting direction: Jędrzej Jęcikowski
Set design and costumes collaboration: Natalia Dziarczykowska
Set and costume execution: Marta Szypulska, Natalia Dziarczykowska, Wiktor Droszcz, Oliwia Peczyńska, Hanna Rosińska, Julia Wasilewska
Execution of the illustration forming part of the tent interior: Marta Szypulska, Natalia Dziarczykowska, Apolonia Chmielewska, Zbyszek Chmielewski
Director’s assistant: Wojciech Sobolewski
Pedagogical support in the process: Katarzyna Batarowska
Stage manager: Małgorzata Krawczyk
Production manager: Magda Igielska
Rehearsal translation: Katarzyna Kania
The performance was created as part of Marta Keil’s international curatorial program “To Whom Does Theatre Belong?”.
