Performances
“Under the Wings of the Griffin”
"Under the Wings of the Gryf" is a colorful, open-air theatrical performance about an extraordinary encounter between Polish and Italian cultures. The story is tied together by the figure of Queen Bona – a young Italian princess who comes to Poland to become Queen of Poland alongside Sigismund the Old.
In this new reality, she is accompanied by her faithful friend – the mighty griffin Lorenzo, a symbol of Italian spirit, imagination, and courage. It is he who supports Bona in her first moments in an unfamiliar country and helps her see the beauty of Poland and understand that the meeting of two different cultures can be the beginning of something special.
Queen Bona brings Italian art, music, architecture, new flavors, and an atmosphere of Renaissance revelry to the Polish court. At the same time, she herself discovers the richness of Polish culture, knightly crafts, and native traditions. The performance demonstrates how both cultures intertwine, inspire, and mutually enrich each other, creating a new, delightful quality.
The show begins with a spectacular Italian masquerade ball, and its subsequent scenes combine dance theatre, pantomime, puppetry, and formal theatre. The artists utilize large, impressive stage props – flags, dancing fans, wings, and a monumental griffin puppet. The entire performance is accompanied by music that highlights the Italian temperament and the atmosphere of the Polish Renaissance. The show is complemented by a stylized narrative, which invites the audience into the world of a fairy tale based on historical facts.
"Under the Wings of the Gryf" is an interdisciplinary street performance created and developed with outdoor performances in mind. The choreography, narrative, large props, and clear stage images were designed to ensure the performance would work well in an open space and be attractive to a large audience.
It's a story full of color, movement, and Renaissance beauty about the meeting of two traditions that don't compete but intertwine to create a new quality in Polish culture.
Additional information
Duration: approximately 45 minutes
Audience Animation: approximately 10 minutes of dance animation engaging the audience
Artistic Crew: 8 artists
Characters: Queen Bona, Gryf Lorenzo, Polish knights, Italian courtiers and ladies-in-waiting
Required Space: minimum 10 x 12 meters
Stage: the performance does not require a stage or elevated platform
Venue: street, urban space, market square, square, courtyard, or other relatively flat terrain
Type of Performance: outdoor performance
Audience Animation: approximately 10 minutes of dance animation engaging the audience
Artistic Crew: 8 artists
Characters: Queen Bona, Gryf Lorenzo, Polish knights, Italian courtiers and ladies-in-waiting
Required Space: minimum 10 x 12 meters
Stage: the performance does not require a stage or elevated platform
Venue: street, urban space, market square, square, courtyard, or other relatively flat terrain
Type of Performance: outdoor performance