In This House There Was a Room - Theatre Performance

"In This House There Was a Room" is a theatre performance about the relationship between a mother and son in the shadow of war. It draws inspiration from the lives of Empress Augusta Victoria, wife of Emperor Wilhelm II, and their son Joachim - who took his own life following his father's abdication and the failed Kapp Putsch.

The performance poses questions about love and duty, fear and honour, about masculinity that cannot fit into military uniforms. It is a story about the longing for life in an era that teaches how to die.

Scenario and direction: Agata Elsner
Texts, scenario collaboration: Marta Jagniewska-Bargetto
Choreography: Karolina Wensierska
Cast: Anastasiya Medvedeva, Oleh Nesterov, Maksymilian Guillemin, Agata Elsner
Music: Tomasz Gęstwicki, Marek Straszak, Michał Szulżyk
Costumes and set design: Justyna Paluszyńska and Grzegorz Raubo
Lighting design: Jacek "Kobra" Nowaczyk

The performance is intended for audiences aged 14 and above. It contains themes of death and suicide that may be emotionally challenging. The production uses dry ice and elements referencing religious symbolism.

The premiere took place in 2025 as part of the interdisciplinary artistic and social project "DRWAL. Stories About Masculinity". The performance was funded by the City of Poznań budget.