Opening Night: 16 December 2011
Author: Hanoch Levin
Title: The Anguish of Life
Original Title: מלאכת החיים
Translator: Agnieszka Olek
Director: Jan Englert

Auditorium: Boguslawski Hall 
Running time: 1 hour 30 min, no interval

The Anguish of Life

Of course, they are fighting as usual. Anna Seniuk as Leviva and Janusz Gajos as Yona, in the cosmos of marital coexistence.

They are equal opponents. After a few dozen years of practice, they know that in marriage a lot can be said and forgiven. A tired couple in Hanoch Levin’s tragicomedy experiences disappointment, attachment, blame, regrets and irritation at passing time and being old. Solitude would be so peaceful. But in fact, we only have each other.


director: Jan Englert 
set design: Barbara Hanicka 
music: Stanisław Radwan 
lighting design: Wojciech Puś 
animation: Michał Jankowski


Awards and Nominations:

2012 – The Cyprian Kamil Norwid Award in "theatre" category to Jan Englert for the direction of The Anguish of Life
2012 – The Warsaw Felix award in "the best male supporting role" category for Włodzimierz Press for the role of Gunkel
2012 – nomination for the Warsaw Felix award in "the best female leading role" category for Anna Seniuk for the role of Lewiwa
2012 – nomination for the Warsaw Felix award in "the best male leading role” category for Janusz Gajos for the role of Jona Popoch

Cast: 

Yona Popoch Janusz Gajos
Leviva, wife of Yona Popoch Anna Seniuk
Gunkel, neighbour Włodzimierz Press (quest actor)

Production team:

  • set designer's assistant: Elwira Szyszka
  • costume designer's assistant: Anita Trzaskowska 
  • lighting technicians: Zbigniew Szulim, Bartłomiej Kaczalski, Krzysztof Łukasz Stefan
  • sound technicians: Mariusz Maszewski, Marek Szymański, Hubert Majewski
    • video projection: Mariusz Chałubek, Paweł Woźniak
  • stage manager: Ewa Dworecka 
  • prompter: Jolanta Szydłowska



Copyright holds Institute of Israeli Drama represented by ADiT in Poland.

null

Gallery:

  • OTHER DELIGHTS

    This adaptation of the novel Other Delights is the second staging of one of Jerzy Pilch's works at the National Theatre, following The Holy Father's Skis. Premiere – 7 December 2024.  

  • FAUST

    Faust is a story based on an ancient legend of a scholar who yearns so much for just a moment of happiness that he makes a pact with the devil. Premiere – 26 October 2024.

  • FEBLIK

    Małgorzata Maciejewska's surprising drama received the Tadeusz Różewicz Drama Award in 2022, the competition's first year. The show is directed by Lena Frankiewicz. 

  • A DREAM PLAY

    After the well-received Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Sławomir Narloch returned to the National Theatre with another premiere – A Dream Play by Strindberg.

     

  • KING LEAR

    The King of Britain divides his kingdom between his three daughters to free himself from worries and hardships. However, before the decision he poses a question: which of you loves me the most?

  • WAITING FOR GODOT

    "What do we do now? Wait. [...] We're waiting for Godot". Piotr Cieplak directs Waiting for Godot by Beckett. Is this a classic yet? Does it still have its avant-garde power? And, are we still waiting?

  • FREDRO: THE JUBILEE YEAR

    Do you know Fredro? Not necessarily... To celebrate 230 years since Aleksander Fredro's birth, the National Theatre invites you to an evening dedicated to the life and works of Poland’s greatest comedy writer. 

  • TALES FROM THE VIENNA WOODS

    Małgorzata Bogajewska directs for the second time at the National Theatre. This time she draws on Ödön von Horváth's 1931 drama.

  • Solidarity with Ukraine | Солідарні з Україною

    The ensemble of the National Theatre stands in solidarity with the Ukrainians who are fighting for the independence of their homeland.

  • The National Theatre at Google Cultural Institute

    The virtual exhibition 250 Years of Teatr Narodowy (the National Theatre of Poland) is available online at Google Cultural Institute.

By continuing to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies. You can adjust cookies settings via your internet browser. Review our cookies policy here.

You can adjust your cookies settings below:

  Allow storing advertising data.

  Allow storing user data.

  Allow personalized ads.

  Allow storing analytical data.