Here and Now! Monster City

Based on the text by Joanna Guszta.

It has long been known that our surroundings influence our daily well-being, and consequently, our choices, decisions, and sense of agency. Caring for our environment also includes mindfulness towards others, our neighbors, those living nearby, even if they remain strangers. The creators of the performance focus on fundamental issues that already have a direct impact on the future, especially the future of the younger generation. They want to clearly emphasize its agency, while also expressing full trust in the young perspective on the world. Children live surprisingly intensely in the here and now. They carefully observe what surrounds them and what they co-create. It’s time to ask ourselves what they can teach us, and what we can give them in return.

Co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund – a state special purpose fund, and from the funds of the City of Łódź.

Stage premiere: March 24, 2024

Creators

Adaptation and direction: Marta Wiśniewska
Dramaturgy: Katarzyna Hora
Set design and graphic identity: Klaudia Laszczyk
Music: Magdalena Gorwa
Lighting design: Filip Niżyński

Cast

Krzysztof Ciesielski
Małgorzata Krawczenko
Filip Wawrecki/ Paweł Pacyna (guest) / Krzysztof Kozak (guest)
Anna Sztuder-Mieszek
Natalia Wieciech/ Dominika Hudziec-Narkiewicz

Additional materials

PP_miasto_potwor_ekranyDownload the performance guide

Gallery

A scene from the performance "Here and Now! Monster City" at the Pinokio Theatre in Łódź, depicting an actress in a grey dress with yellow polka dots and an actor dressed in a cobalt jumpsuit holding props in the shape of a man's head and a monster, standing against a dark stage design.
An actor in the performance "Here and Now! Monster City" at the Pinokio Theatre in Łódź, dressed in a cobalt jumpsuit, covering his face with a large mask depicting an elderly man with pince-nez, standing next to a pink speech bubble with the inscription "BUY ME!" against a black stage design.
An actor in the performance "Here and Now! Monster City" at the Pinokio Theatre in Łódź, dressed in a monster costume consisting of a yellow jumpsuit, pink spikes, and three very large, colorful eyes, standing in a dynamic pose against a black and blue stage design.
A scene from the performance "Here and Now! Monster City" at the Pinokio Theatre in Łódź, depicting a wide shot of an actor dressed in a monster costume consisting of a yellow jumpsuit, pink spikes, and three very large, colorful eyes, standing in a dynamic pose amidst a stage design depicting a city overwhelmed by billboards, advertisements, and graffiti.
A scene from the performance "Here and Now! Monster City" at the Pinokio Theatre in Łódź, depicting from the side an actor dressed in a monster costume consisting of a yellow jumpsuit, pink spikes and a tail, and three very large, colorful eyes, partially obscuring an actress in a grey dress with yellow polka dots, standing amidst a stage design depicting a city overwhelmed by billboards, advertisements, and graffiti.
An actor in the performance "Here and Now! Monster City" at the Pinokio Theatre in Łódź, dressed in a cobalt jumpsuit, holding a large mask depicting an elderly man with pince-nez, standing with one leg resting on a stage element depicting city blocks.
A scene from the performance "Here and Now! Monster City" at the Pinokio Theatre in Łódź, depicting an actor dressed in a cobalt jumpsuit with his face covered by a mask depicting a lady with yellow glasses, purple hair, and a pigeon on her head, standing next to an actress dressed in a grey dress with yellow polka dots, holding a plush dinosaur prop in cobalt color, surrounded by colorful stage design on a black background.
A scene from the performance "Here and Now! Monster City" at the Pinokio Theatre in Łódź, depicting an actor dressed in a cobalt jumpsuit with his face covered by a mask symbolizing a lady with yellow glasses, purple hair, and a pigeon on her head, holding the hand of an actress dressed in a grey dress with yellow polka dots, who is holding a plush dinosaur prop in cobalt color, behind whom stands an actor with an outstretched hand, dressed in a cobalt jumpsuit, holding a large mask depicting a man with pink hair, green glasses, and a green cap, surrounded by colorful stage design on a black background.
An actor in the performance "Here and Now! Monster City" at the Pinokio Theatre in Łódź, holding a prop in the shape of an ice cream cone with three scoops against a stage design depicting a city on a dark background.
photos: Tomasz Ogrodowczyk, Natalia Szczepaniak

Trailer

trailer: Mateusz Dziworski

Poster

Official poster for the performance "Here and Now! Monster City" at the Pinokio Theatre in Łódź, depicting a huge pink monster devouring a small car, along with the performance title, creator information, and theatre logo on a lime green background.
poster: Klaudia Laszczyk