I was delighted when I was invited to Legnica to direct a play in Polonia by Mr Jacek Glomb, General Artistic Director of Modrejewskiej Theatre. As in fact the Polish theatre is quite an important one with its great theoreticians, playwrights, directors and actors. I did not hesitate to accept the invitation. Arriving at Wroslaw on the 25th of April through Munich I found a lady from the international affairs department of the theatre and a driver waiting for me at the airport. On my request the lady was the first person who told me about the history of Legnica while we were on the way.

Legnica is a town in the southwest of Polonia and at the border of Germany with a population of 100.000. It was ruled throughout the centuries by Czechs, Mongols and later by Germans and Russians. Before the World War II ended it was a German town named Liegnitz which hosted German troops during the war. After the war ended Russians settled in the town with an army of 80.000 soldiers and Legnica became a ‘so called' Polish town; deeply feeling the Russian effect. Most of the population were urged to immigrate to Germany, and in order to create a new population they brought people from Ukrania. Russians also changed the whole architectural concept of the town. New immigrations took place again after the last Russian troop left the town in 1993. According to what Robert told, the most important problem of the people of Legnica is that they do not have the feeling of where to belong. Robert Urbanski, the dramaturg of the theatre said he had heard no folkloric or children songs from his grand parents and parents. As there is none at all, he does not know any songs coming from older generations. Neither civil mentality nor social life has yet exactly settled. People live in their houses, neighbours do not know each other, etc. Everybody seems to be in a rush to make more children. During the weekends streets are full of mothers with their babies in their carriages. It seems there are no old people in the town. I saw very few looking out of the windows or at the sky with hopeless eyes, that's all.

Anyway, I settled in the Kamieniczka Hotel from where Mr Milan Lesiak who is responsible of the theatre's international affairs took me to Mr. Jacek Glomb.

How should I tell about Jacek? In the first place he is a director of theatre and cinema. His eyes were full of tears as he was telling me that the open area used before by German and Russian armies as a manege surrounded by the buildings which he directed ‘Corielanus' only a few years ago is now being used as a high school and he was just unable to resist demolition of the historical manege in the vast area.

Not only the buildings are places for theatre for him but the ruins of a stable, an old market, the old revue hall, the warehouse, etc. According to the festival format he organized for the first time last year the theatre groups from the USA, Italy, Russia, Georgia and Polonia performed their premieres of their plays which they had rehearsed in their own countries.

For Jacek the whole town is a stage. He is so proud when he says the ruins where he performs theatre will again belong to the people of the town.

Right next to the building there is the most splendid one of the Catholic Churches in the town as if laying on the theatre. The main building of the theatre which also includes the main stage has been constructed as an attachment to the historical city hall. They are using both of the attached buildings. Jacek now takes me to one of the balconies of the theatre which is the one Hitler once addressed to the people of Legnica. The balcony is covered with pigeon dirt, the birds are continuing to do so and they are not taking any precautions for that as if Hitler is still there…

Jacek Glomb is over respected by the people of Legnica where he settled 14 years ago as he is so sincerely desires to recreate the town with theatre. Milan Lesiak says to me that the respect he receives from the people is not less than that shown to the Bishop.

Both the film with many awards named ‘The Risings and Fallings of a Town' which Jacek Glomb has directeed from the scenario of Robert Urbanski and mostly the artists of the theatre played, and the play I saw at a ruin named ‘Lemco' telling about the drama of a minoritiy of Legnica the people of Lemco that Robert Urbanski again authored and Jacek Glomb directed, were absolutely great. I watched a perfect minimalist directing in ‘Lemco', and a great design of light, set, and energetic players…

I reestimate all these at my last night in Legnica during the concert of US clarinet player of jazz, Bill Evans organized at the cafe of the theatre to which I was naturally invited.

I am so excited because I will probably come to this town again which is full of heart breaking memories of the close history of the mankind and direct a play in the theatre of passionate people.

Translated by Demet Feyman

Kemal Basar
Director, player

""TO BE EUROPEAN""

"SO, WHO WILL REAP THE BENEFITS?"

"ON THE STATEMENT THAT "WE JUST CAN'T PRODUCE WRITERS"