Students, a camp, a bonfire, and an encounter with ghosts. What will come of it? You can find out when you see “Wanożnicë.” It is a personal story about Kashubia directed by Katarzyna Szyngiera. It is also the diploma performance of fourth-year students of the Danuta Baduszkowa Vocal and Acting School in Gdynia and a musical performance based on the songs of Ola Walicki. The play is also a preview of the celebrations of the centenary of Gdynia. The next performances will take place on February 25 and 26 at 6:00 p.m.
The Musical Theater in Gdynia will host the premiere of a play that refers to Kashubia, the traditions of the region, and heralds the centenary of Gdynia. At the same time, it is also a story about young people encountering the past. We are talking about the play “Wanożnicë,” which in Kashubian means “wanderers.” In the performance, the creators attempt to capture how the unique tradition and history of this region resonates with the reality of future generations.
I come from Gdańsk, but I have also spent a large part of my life in Gdynia, and the idea came from the fact that the region we are in is located in Kashubia. For me, it is an interesting phenomenon that, especially in theatre, the subject of Kashubia appears relatively rarely. It has long been my dream to tell the story of this region in a play. The opportunity to do my diploma arose, and it coincided with the centenary of the city of Gdynia, so we decided that it was a very cool idea and that evoking such regional history fits in with the centenary of the city, which grew out of Kashubian identity, says Katarzyna Szyngiera, the director of the play.
It takes place when a group of drama school students, after passing their exams, go camping in Kashubia to celebrate the start of the holidays. They set up camp, light a bonfire and meet Kashubian spirits.
We talk about the energy of young people and how they view history, tradition and the future. We have also introduced elements related to the rich spiritual tradition of Kashubia, which involves maras, various spirits, goddesses and other stories. However, we have tried to make the whole story universal, adds the director.
The premiere of the play is an important moment for 10 fourth-year students of the Danuta Baduszkowa Vocal and Acting School in Gdynia. This is their diploma performance.
What do we want to say with this performance? It is definitely about coming to terms with our identity, with what is inside us, with what we have experienced, with our traumas. The performance also says that it is worth talking about problems and that only then can they be solved. We also want to show that, although these Kashubian spirits may enter us and influence us during the performance, we still return to the real world and life goes on, says Paulina Borzymowska, a fourth-year student at the Danuta Baduszkowa Vocal and Acting School in Gdynia, one of the performers in the play.
Music also plays a very important role in the performance. It is based on songs by Ola Walicki, author of the albums ‘Kaszëbë’ and ‘Kaszëbë II’. In these projects, the artist created a contemporary, emotional and contrasting vision of Kashubia. The play also uses excerpts from the reportages ‘Kaszëbë’ by Tomasz Słomczyński and ‘Welewetka’ by Stasia Budzisz, as well as a quote from the play ‘Medea's Children’ directed by Milo Rau.
The premiere took place on Saturday, 8 November, 2025 at the Musical Theatre's Scena Kameralna. The play will run until April 2026, and a special performance will also be held at the Wdzydze Fair in July 2026. Tickets are available online.
The play is produced by the ‘Baduszkowcy’ association.
Photo from the media rehearsal of the play ‘Wanożnicë’ at the Musical Theatre. Group scene (photo: Magdalena Czernek)
‘Wanożnicë’
Premiere of the diploma play of the Danuta Baduszkowa State Post-Secondary Vocal and Acting School in Gdynia: 8 November 2025
Musical Theatre in Gdynia, Scena Kameralna
Directed by: Katarzyna Szyngiera
Music: Olo Walicki
Set design and costumes: Arek Ślesiński
Choreography and lighting: Milena Czarnik
Choreography for the song ‘Las’ and collaboration on the song ‘Słone Przymorze’: Damian Zawadzki
Vocal preparation: Sandra Brucheiser
Kashubian language consultation: Iza Flisikowska
Music band: Artur Jurek (keyboards), Janusz Mackiewicz (double bass), Krzysztof Paul (guitar), Maksymilian Kreft (drums)
Cast: Paulina Borzymowska, Wiktoria Czerpak, Małgorzata Frey, Alicja Jerominek, Michał Labuda, Estera Rospondek, Klaudia Sobieszek, Maja Tomaszek, Karolina Trojnacka, Cezary Wytwer.
The upcoming performances are scheduled for 14, 15, and 16 April at 6 p.m.
Photo: Magdalena Czernek