Year 2009

Gas – Second Version

The first premiere of Gas took place in August 2003 in Strzelewo, while in 2009, a longer, more mature, and calmer version was created, once again directed by Ewa Ignaczak and Daniel Jacewicz. The main difference between the two versions of the performance was the creators’ ability to approach the subject with greater distance and calmness. Despite these changes, the performance retained its intensity, becoming gentler in its reception. It was a production created and performed using simple means, capturing the essence and spirit of Gas. The play was built from short scenes in various conventions and songs. Thanks to this simplicity and charm, the effect was striking.

First performance: January 3, 2009
Last performance: November 12, 2009
Number of performances: 13

Emotion in Sound

Following the premiere of My, several individuals joined the Brama group who would soon become key figures shaping its character and artistic activities. Their journey began with the creation of a new performance, Emotion in Sound: Apotheosis. Those involved in the preparation process included Anna Rynkiewicz, Piotr Nykowski, Lena Witkowska, Dorota Ziemińska, Aleksandra Nykowska, Marcin Styborski, Aleksandra Szalińska, and Jenny Crissey.

The performance was based on fragments of texts, songs, and activities that had accompanied the theater over the years and had in many ways charted its artistic path. This is what the performance embodied—a journey inviting the audience to explore a world of music, songs, theater, emotions, and feelings. The show featured the most beautiful songs from Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine, Scandinavia, the Balkans, Corsica, and Spain. Each song carried a unique character, reflecting a profound human truth conveyed through singing, instruments, and, of course, emotions.

Emotion in Sound was a unique meeting. Actors from various parts of the world participated in the performance, and each show included a guest—bringing a new personality into the mix. Another layer was the interaction between the actors and the audience, who became companions on the journey orchestrated by Teatr Brama. The first performance took place on November 27, 2009, in Danowo, with the Goleniów premiere on March 27, 2010.

The performance marked a significant leap forward, pushing beyond the boundaries of youth theater. Attempting to describe the play may feel incomplete; its core lies in participation and simply being present with the actors. The show blurred boundaries: between actors and the audience, humor, language, and emotions.

“A mocking dialogue with the mannerisms of youth alternative theater—provocatively incoherent, blending languages and emotions—allowed for self-ironic distance while creating a safe space for intensely and directly expressed feelings.” (Marta Poniatowska, Droga Bramy, p. 249)

Over the course of its history, many people performed in the play beyond the original cast. The performance had a core framework played by the Brama ensemble and “open spaces” for local stories, inviting a different person each time depending on the circumstances.

Premier Cast: Aleksandra Nykowska, Anna Rynkiewicz, Lena Witkowska, Dorota Ziemińska, Daniel Jacewicz, Piotr Nykowski, Marcin Styborski
Director: Daniel Jacewicz
Sound: Jacek Gałkiewicz
Lighting: Marcin Wańdoch
First performance: November 27, 2009
Last performance: September 17, 2016
Number of performances: 58

10th BRAMAT Festival

The years 2009 and 2010 were challenging for Brama in Goleniów. Daniel sought to return to Goleniów, and the local authorities encouraged this, attempting to find a permanent space where the theater could fully operate. However, Brama lacked financial security, and there was no clear plan or direction for its future. Another demotivating factor was the dispersal of the community surrounding the theater during its absence from Goleniów.

It became evident that BRAMAT could not continue as an annual event in Goleniów without a permanent base or a community invested in its success. The 10th BRAMAT Festival was held at the Rampa Music Club in Goleniów. After the festival, Daniel remarked that this might have been the last BRAMAT.

Despite financial and logistical challenges, the festival featured numerous alternative theaters from Warsaw, Poznań, Szczecin, Sopot, Berlin, and local groups from Stepnica and Goleniów. The festival included six concerts, performances, installations, discussions, an exhibition dedicated to BRAMAT, and other artistic events. It was a modest jubilee but an important milestone.

Statistics:

• Events: 32
  • Performances: 27 (Gas: 13, My: 9, Emotion in Sound: Apotheosis: 2, Others: 3)
  • Concerts: 4
  • Other: Fire show: 1