“ Every virtue can be turned into vice, but in my opinion they haven’t got any big vices. They have only got one powerful enemy, which is Time, that has divided The Beatles, Monty Python’s authors (...) and many others."

[About Montownia: Maciej Wojtyszko - playwright, director, educator]

Montownia Theatre is an independent theatrical group established by graduates from Warszawska Akademia Teatralna im. Aleksandra Zelwerowicza (Aleksander Zelwerowicz’s Theatre Academy of Warsaw). It is formed by the actors: Adam Krawczuk, Marcin Perchuc, Rafal Rutkowski, Maciej Wierzbicki. Montownia hasn’t got any permanent residence. It is connected with Zygmunt Hibner’s Teatr Powszechny (Powszechny Theatre) in Warsaw (joint production - 5 premieres) as well as with Stanislaw Ignacy Witkiewicz’s Teatr Studio (joint production - 2 premieres). Beginning from June 2000 Montownia Theatre started permanent co-operation with the theatre of Akademia Teatralna Collegium Nobilium in Warsaw (2 premieres).

In most of their productions the members of Montownia co-operate with other male and female actors and different Polish directors. Now the time has come to look for international projects, with young creative directors and actors from other countries.

From the beginning of its existence, the Montownia Theatre has tried to work out a scenic language of its own. The solid, classical education of the members (in an Academy where among the lecturers is Andrzej Wajda), works as a base for further artistic investigations.

Their original and own form of theatre can be called a sort of contemporary dell´arte. It is based on each actor ´s skills (voice, pronunciation, the scenic gesture and movement) developed to perfection. Together with great expression and fantasy showed on the stage it is the reason to the great and enthusiastic response from both audience and critics in Poland.

Because of the scarce, almost ascetic set, which is the trademark of all Montownia ´s performances, the spectator concentrates on the actors that operate with a rich technique and means of expression. The performances are very dynamic and charged with energy, although the Montownia Theatre consciously gives up means that give easy effects (multimedia, loud music etc.) The main weight is laid on the intensive play of the actors, which has as its aim to awaken the imagination of the onlooker, which is understood as a return to the roots of theatre. This, mixed with a sense of humour inspired by the 16th Century dell´arte as well as contemporary Monty Pyton and a Polish auto-irony has made that the Montownia Theatre has succeeded in making a great contact with especially the young, contemporary spectators, raised on American movies and MTV.

Short Theatrical Form Festival “WROSTIA ‘95”
in Wroclaw for the performance “Zabawa” (Entertainment)
- Wroclaw TV Prize
- Prize “Attention to Talent”

Short Theatrical Form Festival “KONTRAPUNKT ‘96”
in Szczecin for the performance “Zabawa”
- GRAND PRIZE from audience
- Prize from Journalists

International Clash of Theatres “KLODZKO *96”
in Klodzko for the performance “Zabawa”
- Prize from reviewers

Short Theatrical Form Festival “KONTRAPUNKT ‘97”
in Szczecin for the performance “Szelmostwa Skapena” (“Scapen’s rogueries” by Moliere)
GRAND PRIZE from audience
- Young Performer’s Prize
- Nyczek’s Prize

Short Theatrical Form Festival “WROSTIA ‘97”
in Wroclaw for the performance “Szelmostwa Skapena”
GRAND PRIZE

Garden Theatre’s Festival - Warszawa ‘97 for the performance “Szelmostwa Skapena”
- Main Prize “Small Garden Prize”

The Second all-Polish Competition for production of Polish Contemporary Play proclaimed by the Minister of Culture and Arts as well as the President of ZASP (Union of Polish Theatre Artists)
- Collective Distinction for playing parts in the performance “Zabawa”

Prof. Aleksander Bardini memorial prize
for taking parts in the performance “Zabawa”

Prof. Tadeusz Lomnicki memorial prize
for creative attainments during the first two years in theatre

“ATEST” certificate of high quality and artistic level in theatre awarded by ASSITEJ - Warszawa ‘98 for the performance “Spiew nocy letniej” ("Summer night’s signing")

Theatre in Suitcase Festival - Lomza ‘99 for the performance “Szelmostwa Skapena”
- GRAND PRIZE

Leon Schiller memorial prize awarded by ZASP for artistic attainments in the ‘97-98 season for the theatre Montownia

Garden Theatre Festival - Warszawa 2000 for the performance “Po naszemu” (Our Way)
- “Big Garden Prize”

Theatre in Suitcase Festival - Lomza ‘2000 for the performance “Zabawa”
- Main Prize

Comedy Festival Talia - Tarnów 2000 for the performance “O mój tato...” ("Oh, my daddy...")
- Main Prize
- Main Prize for actor Rafal Rutkowski - part of Mrs. Rózomilska

ITS International Theatreschool Festival
Amstaedam - Holland 1996

Bilkent International Theatre Meeting
Ankara - Turkey 1996

International Festval of Higher Education Theatre Institutes
Seul - South Korea 1997

International Street Events Festival “Vilniaus Dienos”
Vilnius -Lithuania 1997

Days of Polish Culture in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg - Russia 1998

“Unithea” International Theatre Meeting
Frankfurt/Oder - Germany 1999, 2000

Warsaw Weekend in Sankt Petersburg
St. Petersburg - Russia 2001

as well as performances in:
Chicago - USA 1996, 1997
Avignon - France 1996
Glasgow - Scotland 1996