“Titus Andronicus” at the Horzyca Theatre

Set in ancient Rome, exploring universal values and situated in the world of contemporary politics, this production based on William Shakespeare’s tragedy is the first premiere of the season at the Marshal’s Office-owned Horzyca Theatre. Directed by Marcin Liber, its first performance will take place on Friday (October 2) on the Main Stage.

“This is a play about losing control, losing the ability to reflect, and losing the capacity for rational thought. The rituals and ceremonies to which the characters are subjected suddenly become something that introduces total chaos into their world. What was supposed to bring order begins to tear that world apart, because the situation is pushed to the absurd point where the established order slips out of control,” says Adam Cywka, who plays Titus Andronicus, in the Horzyca Theatre’s Ucho Horzycy podcast.

The production is based on a new translation of Shakespeare’s tragedy by Maciej Stroiński, prepared specifically for this staging.

“People invent laws and customs in the name of the gods, but it is not the gods who invent them – it is people, in order to flatter themselves and the fictional deities they have created. And that is cruel, because by consistently following these invented rules, they sacrifice the children of captured prisoners. This is not, so to speak, a light, easy and pleasant story,” Marcin Liber points out.

Violence is presented through the language of staged wrestling matches. The director invited professional wrestlers to take part in the production. They were responsible for preparing the actors and also appear in the performance themselves.

“I thought we could tell a story about violence in a highly conventional and symbolic way, and wrestling matches are perfectly suited to this. We wanted to guide the audience through the plot safely and take responsibility for their emotions. Wrestling gives us the necessary distance, but it does not invalidate the violence,” the director emphasizes.

Further performances will take place on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday (October 3, 4 and 6).

Press Office of the Marshal’s Office

October 1, 2026