Dziady in Tbilisi
In October and November 2022, a joint project Dziady in Tbilisi (Forefathers’ Eve in Tbilisi) was carried out by the Zbigniew Raszewski Theatre Institute and Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University as part of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute’s programme “44 x Mickiewicz”.
Dziady in Tbilisi (Forefathers’ Eve in Tbilisi) is a part of a large-scale project aiming to popularize Polish romantic literature abroad. It involved the translation and performative reading of Adam Mickiewicz's poem/poetic drama - Dziady.
Within the framework of the project, Professor of the Department of Polish Studies at the Jagiellonian University Artur Grabowski conducted dramaturgical workshops “Romantic Drama” and Professor of Institute of Literary Research, Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN, Warsaw) Marek Troszyński, conducted a lecture “Polish Romantic Archdrama against the Backdrop of European Drama” with the Drama Faculty students of Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University. The students worked on fragments of the text of Adam Mickiewicz's poem Dziady (Forefathers' Eve) and carried out practical works assisting them to better understand Mickiewicz’s work and the contexts hidden beyond the textual layer, including: Polish folk religiosity, Catholic liturgy and mystery plays, Slavic rituals, Eastern European mythology and fairy tales, iconography from the period of Polish Romanticism.
The performative reading of Adam Mickiewicz’s Part II of Dziady (“Forefathers’ Eve”) was staged by the Dean of the Drama Faculty, Director Andro Enukidze. The Drama Faculty students took part in the production alongside professional actors. The premiere was held on November 18, 2022. The project was funded by the 44xMiciewicz program of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.
The project continues in 2023-2024.
Within the framework of the project, in October 2023, Elżbieta Wrotnowska-Gmyz, Director of Zbigniew Raszewski Theatre Institute, Jadwiga Majewska, Head of the Publishing Department, Lecturer at the Jagiellonian University and Artur Grabowski, Professor of the Department of Polish Studies at the Jagiellonian University paid a visit University.
Professor Artur Grabowski conducted dramaturgical workshops “Romantic Drama”. The entire poem has been translated into Georgian by Keti Kantaria and Ana Kopaliani. On June 10, 2024, a partnership agreement was signed between the Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University and the Zbigniew Raszewski Theatre Institute in Warsaw.
The performance was staged by the Dean of the Drama Faculty, Director Andro Enukidze. The Drama Faculty students participated alongside professional actors (including one Ukrainian and one Belarusian actor).
Scenographer – Teo Kukhianidze
Costume Designer – Vera Kipiani
Composer – Zaza Marjanishvili
Choreographer – Davit Metreveli
Video Art – Marina Salukvadze
Cast: Avtandil Makharadze (People’s Artist of Georgia), Givi Balachivadze, Nodar Meladze, Buka Glonti, Giga Kakubava, Otar Ashkareli, Gogi Turkiashvili, Giorgi Piranishvili, Archil Baratashvili, Kakha Mikiashvili, Kakhi Gazdeliani, Nika Kakheli, Lizi Kotrikhadze, Giorgi Tsertsvadze, Tekla Sulakvelidze, Giorgi Jikia, Mamuka Mumladze, Nina Kalatozi, Guga Katsarava, Mariam Nadiradze, Sofi Khizanishvili, Temur Dvali, Giorgi Gotsadze, Tato Kublashvili, Grigori Laikov (Belarus), Oleg Kaznovski (Ukraine).
The project was funded by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage through the Inspiring Culture Program.
The premiere was held on July 1, 2024.
On September 30, 2024, the performance was held at the Giga Lortkipanidze Professional Municipal Drama Theatre in Rustavi, and on November 11, 2024, at the Giorgi Eristavi Professional State Drama Theatre in Gori.
On April 16 and 17, 2025, the performance Dziady was invited by the Arnold Szyfman Polish Theatre in Warsaw (Teatr Polski w Warszawie) to participate in the Lamentacje Festival in Warsaw. The performance was presented on the Chamber Stage of the Polish Theatre.
The festival was dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Poland’s accession to the European Union and Poland’s presidency of the EU Council on January 1, 2025. The festival's partner was the Grotowski Institute in Wrocław. It was funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Poland.
