Polish theatre protests elimination of director after “anti-government” play

Employees at considered one of Poland’s main theatres, the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Kraków, staged a protest final evening following information that its director, Krzysztof Głuchowski, is about to be faraway from his submit.

The regional authorities declare that his dismissal is because of a breach of procurement laws in addition to failing to “look after the nice identify of the theatre”. However the director and his employees see it as punishment for a controversial play they staged that was seen by conservatives as an assault on the federal government.

Yesterday, the workplace of Witold Kozłowski – a politician from Poland’s ruling national-conservative Legislation and Justice (PiS) social gathering who serves as marshal of the Małopolska province through which Kraków is situated – confirmed {that a} process to take away Głuchowski as chief govt and inventive director of the theatre had been launched.

It stated that, throughout an audit, the theatre was discovered to have “violated laws concerning implementation of the legislation on public procurement”. As such, it had knowledgeable the regional monetary authorities of a attainable “breach of public finance self-discipline”.

In its assertion, the marshal’s workplace additionally claimed that Głuchowski had “withdrawn from” his contractual obligation “to look after the nice identify of the theatre in the course of the efficiency of his perform”.

Nonetheless, Głuchowski and his supporters imagine that he’s truly being punished for the current staging by his theatre of a contemporary model of the basic drama Dziady, additionally recognized in English as Forefathers’ Eve, written within the nineteenth century by Adam Mickiewicz, Poland’s most celebrated poet.

The manufacturing featured a variety of political components, referring to the Catholic church, protests in opposition to a near-total ban on abortion, and the Polish authorities’s battle with the European Union. The schooling superintendent for Małopolska, a authorities appointee, referred to as the play “anti-government” and “in opposition to the nationwide curiosity”.

“To me, this resolution [to dismiss me] is punishment for staging Dziady. There isn’t a different motive,” stated Głuchowski, quoted by Gazeta Wyborcza. “We’re witnessing tradition dying. It’s all in regards to the independence of artwork and freedom of inventive expression.”

He denies all accusations in opposition to him and notes that no investigation has been launched by prosecutors, whereas the monetary regulator notified by the marshal’s workplace has thus far solely requested him for paperwork and has not reached any resolution.

In response to the information of Głuchowski’s pending dismissal, employees on the theatre staged a protest final evening, holding a banner declaring “The theatre is ours”. In an announcement, the theatre expressed “deep concern” on the resolution, which it stated was “completely incomprehensible and missing any factual or authorized grounds”.

Poland’s PiS authorities has confronted criticism for what opponents see as its makes an attempt to exert management over cultural establishments, corresponding to theatres, galleries and museums, by putting in new administrators. The federal government argues, nevertheless, that’s appearing inside its powers and taking selections primarily based on benefit.

Foremost picture credit score: Jakub Wlodek / Agencja Wyborcza.pl