25th – 28th June (Thursday – Saturday)

Teatr Wspolczesny (Modern Theatre)

FRAGMENTS, dir. Peter Brook; C.I.C.T. / Theatre des Bouffes du Nord

These performances, comprised of a selection of some of Samuel Beckett’s shorter pieces, prove the falsity of the labels typically pinned to Beckett - despairing, negative, pessimistic. In his production, Brook delicately sheds light on another side of the famous Irish playwright. Outstanding actors are the stars of this simple staging; Hayley Carmichael, Marcello Magni, and Khalifa Natour bring a richly beguiling mixture of light and darkness to their performances. Their experience and talent have allowed them to create characters full of sensitivity and cruelty, moving swiftly from the richest dramatic quality to delightful physical comedy.

“Beckett strived for a certain unity, in which sound, movement, rhythm, breath and silence all come together in harmony, amidst this shattered world and the abyss of human existence,” says Peter Brook. This unattainable goal, which fueled his need for perfection, led Beckett on a rare passage that links ancient Greek theatre through Shakespeare to the present day.

Duration: 60 minutes