Symbiosis

Symbiosis is a reaction to the conflict in the relationship between a mother and daughter, a theme increasingly present in literature and in the society. It presents an uncomfortable and disturbing image of a mother that is often denied and silenced, yet exists, and it is both troubling and distressing. The show presents the archetype of the mother, who is not only a source of protection and wisdom and all that is good, but is also capable of generating terror, dominance and devastation. The work Symbiosis is mainly inspired by the novels The Pianist, by Elfride Jelinek, and The Heartbreaker, by Boris Vian.
Symbiosis has received:

• 3 awards at the aactWorldFest 2022 International Theatre Festival (Venice, USA): best production, best direction, best music.

• 4 awards at the Liverpool International Theatre Festival – LIFT 2024 (Liverpool, Canada): best production, best direction, best original screenplay, audience award.

Theatre Zapadnia company was founded in 1998. The founder and director of the group is Agnieszka Włoch. It is made up of performing arts enthusiasts, united by a shared sensitivity, the sincere search for truth and a deep yearning for freedom in exploring both the inner and outer worlds.

The group is inspired by various forms of artistic expression: movement, sound, gesticulation as a source of expression and the visual arts. The performances are based on symbols, signs and metaphors, and leave room for free interpretation and emotional connection. The group’s activities take the form of creative workshops, and performances often arise from collective artistic expression and the personal experiences of each group member. Creative energy comes from human resources: the mind, the body and the imagination.

The company has participated in several international theatre festivals:

• Chuncheon (South Korea) 2014
• Double Défi (Mont-Laurier, Canada) 2015, 2017
• aactWorldFest (Venice, EUA) 2018, 2022
• Skampa (Elbasan, Albania) 2022
•  Liverpool – LIFT (Canada) 2024