Agnieszka Blonska

I (she/her) am a Polish - British theatre director , dramaturg and performer who have worked in both countries as an independent artist and in collaboration with theatre companies and venues such as Wildworks, Powszechny Theatre, Theatre Institute in Warsaw, National Theatre Studio, Soho Theatre, Circomedia, Hall For Cornwall and Theatre Bristol.

In my practice I am particularly interested in subjects of identity, social change and personal stories in relation to society. I use a variety of forms including participatory and performative theatre exploring the boundaries of traditional drama and play. I usually work with devising and improvisation techniques, often examining deconstruction and non-linear approach to performance.

I work as a part time senior lecturer at Falmouth University and am an artistic advisor for Projekt Europa. In 2008 I was nominated to the Arts Foundation Award for Young Theatre Directors.

more info: www.agnieszkablonska.com

Credits

DIRECTOR, 'Re: Voice', a participatory theatre performance with Tuesday Night Fun Time choir led by Vicky Abbott, created in collaboration as a part of the international academic research exploring themes of intangible cultural heritage, identity and minority perspectives, produced by imPOSSIBLE in collaboration with Falmouth University and Tate St Ives. Presented in Spring 2023 at Tate St Ives.

CO-DIRECTOR with Jennifer Fletcher, 'We’ve Been Here' R&D, a community project with grandmothers in Penwith exploring themes of grandmotherhood and female resilience, produced by Hannah Brady, supported by ACE, RIO Plymouth, Feast, Immersive Business (Falmouth University), Creative England, Garbo House and Salomon Browne Hall

DIRECTOR, 'Orlando. Biografie' ('Orlando. Biographies'), inspired by V. Wolf’s novel Orlando, dramaturgy Olga Byrska and ensemble; Teatr Powszechny, Warsaw, Poland

DIRECTOR, 'Help! I Think I’m a Nationalist', a solo comedy show with Seamas Carey, produced by him and imPOSSIBLE; regional and national tour; Cornwall, UK

DIRECTOR, 'Feast: Ingredients of Us' R&D, a participatory theatre project in collaboration with T. Fatehi Irani and G. Tan; produced by Projekt Europa; The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, UK

CO-DIRECTOR with Jennifer Fletcher, 'We’ve Been Here', a series of short 7 films; online

CO-ORGANISER, One Billion Rising in Cornwall, a global dance event against violence towards women and girls, online; in collaboration with K. Goodey, C. Bunker, H. Tiplady, E. Alden, R. Mordan and in association with The Women’s Centre Cornwall, UK

CO-ORGANISER & CO-DIRECTOR, 'Kerpow’s Vibin', an online event for women in Cornwall; in collaboration with K. Goodey, C. Bunker, H. Tiplady, E. Alden, R. Mordan and in association with The Women’s Centre Cornwall, UK

CO-ORGANISER, One Billion Rising in Truro, a global dance event against violence towards women and girls, joining from Truro in Cornwall; in collaboration with K. Goodey, C. Bunker, H. Tiplady, E. Alden, R. Mordan and in association with The Women’s Centre Cornwall, UK; Truro, UK

DIRECTOR, 'Diably' (Devils), based on motifs from Mother Joan of Angels by J. Iwaszkiewicz, dramaturgy: J. Wichowska; Teatr Powszechny, Warsaw, Poland; length of run - it is in rep and is ongoing (both live and online); premiere: 2019

DIRECTOR, 'Polish Vermin', devised in collaboration with P. Kujawska, M. Iwanowski and B. Bower; Ferment Bristol Old Vic, Arnolfini, Newlyn Art Gallery, FEAST and Kneehigh Theatre, UK and Festival Happy City/Atlas of Transitions at Teatr Powszechny, Warsaw, Poland; length of run: 3 shows; premiere: 2017

DIRECTOR, 'The Trial' by S. Berkoff adapted from F. Kafka, AMATA Performance Centre, Acting 3rd year’s production, Falmouth University, Cornwall, UK; length of run: 2 shows; premiere: 2018

DIRECTOR 'Mefisto' (Mephisto), inspired by K. Mann’s novel and a film by I. Szabo Mephisto, dramaturgy J. Wichowska; Teatr Powszechny, Warsaw, Poland; length of run - it is in rep and is ongoing; premiere: 2017

CO-DIRECTOR with Roza Sarkisian, 'Mij Did kopav, Mij Batko kopav, a ja ne budu' (My Grandad was digging, My Dad was digging, and I won’t), dramaturgy J. Wichowska and D. Levitsky; Gogolfest, Kiev, Ukraine, Ukraine and Polish tour; length of run: various shows between 2016 - 2017

DIRECTOR, 'Seamas Carey Meets His 4 Year Old Self, With a Choir', musical directors: Seamas Carey and Victoria Abbott; Newlyn Art Gallery, Newlyn, UK and UK tour; length of run: various shows between 2016 - 2019

DIRECTOR, 'Praskie Si-Fi' (Praga’s Sci-Fi), dramaturgy J. Wichowska; Teatr Powszechny, Warsaw, Poland; length of run: in rep between 2016 - 2017

DIRECTOR, 'Rape. Voices', dramaturgy S. Chutnik; produced by Association STER and Teatr Powszechny, Warsaw, Poland; length of run: in rep between 2015 - 2017

DIRECTOR, (F.E.A.R.), a devised solo performance in collaboration with Gareth Clark; Experimentica Festival, Cardiff, UK and UK tour; 3 weeks run in Edinburgh in 2017; length of run: various shows between 2015 - 2018

Training

2006-2007 Drama Directing, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
2003-2004 School of Physical Theatre, London (based on Lecoq's Method)
2000-2001 The Gildia Project, New World Performance Laboratory (based on Grotowski's Method)
1999-2001 The Academy of Theatre Practices, Gardzienice, Poland
1996-2003 Ma in Applied Social Sciences, Anthropology of Culture, University of Warsaw, Poland

Workshops:
2009 theatre directing with Katie Mitchell, National Theatre Studio, London, UK
2008 theatre directing with Ian Rickson, the ex-artistic director of the Royal Court Theatre in London, UK
2007 theatre workshop with Bill Mitchell, the ex-artistic director of Wildworks Theatre and Kneehigh Theatre, UK