The Futurological Congress

In the near future, in a world gripped by demographic and climate crisis, the World Futurological Congress takes place. Ijon Tichy — a space traveller and scientist in one — sent to this gathering, attempts to understand events that rapidly take an unexpected turn. In the haze of mascons, amid the sounds of a mysterious concert, together with the protagonist we seek the truth about a world increasingly resembling a futuristic amusement park of hallucinations.

The play by the Drama Reading Theatre is an adaptation of Stanisław Lem's satirical and prophetic novel. The edge of satire, originally aimed at popular futurologists of the 1970s, read in contemporary times becomes a distorted mirror of the conflict between scientific scepticism and pseudoscientific theories and utopian ideologies. The adaptation also raises questions about the boundaries of freedom and creativity in the realm of language — Lem's novel is a masterpiece of wordcraft and a celebration of unbridled linguistic play.

A distinctive feature of the production is the original music performed live, which won an award at the VIII Competition for Staging Classical Works of Polish Literature "Living Classics".

Direction: Daniel Adamczyk
Dramaturgy: Maciej Gorczyński
Cast: Michał Jóźwik, Jarosław Tomica
Music: Jan Jaworski, Szczepan Pospieszalski, Joanna Szczęsnowicz, Jan Tarkowski
Costumes: Marta Góźdź Elbruzda
Lighting: Miłosz Wójciuk, Daniel Adamczyk
Sound: Tomasz Kraśkiewicz
Production: Małgorzata Lisowska-Źrebiec

Duration: 105 minutes