Kula and Toperz are not ordinary characters. They are words. And everything would be alright if it was not for the fact that they had been mispronounced. The little girl who uttered them and gave life to the two friends meant Kura (Polish for hen, whilst kula means ball, sphere or crutch) and Nietoperz (Polish for bat). But by making a trivial, as it may seem, mistake she created words that cannot, whatever they do, find their place in the reality that surrounds them. Nonetheless, instead of sitting around and crying the two characters decide to take action. Perhaps plastic surgery would help. Or experts, because who knows more about words than the Polish Language? But does it really exist? Or a Speech Therapist. But who would want to see a doctor on their own accord? Or, maybe, the best solution is to accept oneself (if only this was as easy as it sounded…).
In its form Chodź na słówko [Let’s Have a Word] refers to the traditions of commedia dell’arte and literary cabaret. Based on a text by Malina Prześluga it is intended for children aged 8+ years, but its humour and message will most definitely also prove entertaining for the older viewer.
Jerzy Moszkowicz is a theatre and television director, the managing director of the Children’s Art Centre in Poznań and the initiator and director of the “Ale Kino!” Young Audience Film Festival. He majored in theatre studies at the Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań. From 1970 to 1981 he was the head programmer at Ośrodek Teatralny Maski, Poznań, which, at the time, was where companies like Teatr Ósmego Dnia, Teatr Maja and Teatr Jan performed. Since 1990, he has been directing theatre performances and television shows for children and young people. From 1996 to 2002 he was the president of the International Center of Films for Children and Young People (CIFEJ); from 1992 to 1998, the cofounder and member of the Executive Committee of the European Network of Art Organizations for Children and Young People (EunetART), and from 2002 to 2007, a member of the Chapter of the Award of the President of the Polish Republic for Works for Children and Young People.
text: MALINA PRZEŚLUGA
direction: JERZY MOSZKOWICZ
music: MARIUSZ MATUSZEWSKI
costumes: BEATA NOWACKA, KATARZYNA RATIČ
scenography: JACEK ZAGAJEWSKI
stage movement: JULIUSZ STAŃDA
director assistant: AGATA FELIKSZEWSKA-IGIEL
musicians: ANDRZEJ MAZUREK, WIESŁAW PRZĄDKA, DARIUSZ RYBACKI, MACIEJ SŁOMIAN
the “Kura” puppet: GRZEGORZ FIJAŁKOWSKI
production: WOJCIECH NOWAK
performed by: ANNA MIERZWA/OKSANA PRYJMAK, RADOSŁAW ELIS, MICHAŁ KOCUREK
premiere: 11.02.2013