Shakespeare's Testament

A Catholic, a teacher, an actor - Shakespeare. Is life alongside such a man always strewn with roses?

In this production, Maria Gładkowska embodies the little-known wife of Shakespeare - Anne Hathaway. The bittersweet text by Canadian playwright Vern Thiessen unveils the behind-the-scenes reality of the dramatist's marriage to a woman eight years his senior. "The greater your success, the less you're at home" - says the protagonist. The woman raises the children alone, grieves for those she loses, and struggles daily with longing for her husband. Each harbors their own secrets, yet they shower each other with profound love.

The play opens shortly after Shakespeare's funeral. Anne receives her husband's will from his despised sister and hesitates long before reading it - trusting that nothing should surprise her. She begins to recall shared moments with her husband and children. Will William's final wishes be able to compensate for her solitary, self-sacrificing life?

Translation: Hanna Szczerkowska. Direction: Marek Pasieczny. Set design and costumes: Maciej Lewik. Music: Robert Łuczak. Polish premiere: February 7, 2019, Small Hall.