MOS Theatre

We are a bilingual (English – Polish) theatre company based in picturesque capital of Scotland – Edinburgh. Our mission is to promote multicultural theatre that is inclusive and open for diversity with a particular focus on innovative adaptations of classics. Through the theatre we try to build and enhance a cultural dialogue between Polish and British communities. Also, to promote the Polish cultural heritage among British community as well as cultivate Polish culture and language among Polish emigrants with particular focus on youth and children. Apart from the English and Polish stage productions, we realize various, educational and artistic projects to integrate Polish minority in Great Britain regarding its mother tongue. So far, we performed successfully in the Scottish Parliament during Celebrating Diversity in Scotland – Polish Culture and Language celebrations, Hawick International Day at Wilton Lodge Park Bandstand, Scottish Borders Diversity Week in Galashiels, Open Days in Polish Saturday School in Hawick or Cracovia Experience Festival in Edinburgh – celebrations of cultural collab between Edinburgh and Krakow Councils and many other events for multiculturalism. Moreover, we took part in Virtual Polish Festival @ Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia 2020, Edinburgh Horror Festival digital 2021, Edinburgh’s Theatre Festival StagEHd 2022 with Wawel Dragon production and Edinburgh’s Theatre Festival StagEHd 2023 with Moliere’s Garden Party, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022 with world premiere of solo-show Whispers as well as premiere of its Polish version Podszepty during International Festival of Solo Shows VI MonoWschod in Vilnius, Lithuania, International Theatre Festiwal XI Wileńskie Spotkania Sceny Polskiej in Vilnius, Lithuania with performance Świeczka zgasła.; Whispers took part as well in a prestigious Hysteria – a women led theatre and art festival, in Birmingham the Old Rep Theatre in 2023 and Podszepty were presented on Soloshows Festival “Strzała Północy’23” in a theatre Dialog,Koszalin, Poland and during 5th and 6th edition of the festival of Polish theatre from abroad in Druga Strefa Theatre in Warsaw, Poland. In 2024 MOS took its premiere of Polish version of a play by Katie Overstall Around the world with Nellie Bly to the VII edition of International Festival of Solo Shows MonoWschod in Vilnius, Lithuania. As the only Polish theatre in Scotland, we regularly take part in Polish Heritage Days UK, within we already made a Polish- English production of DZIADY II FRAGMENTY – FOREFATHER’S EVE II EXCERPTS with actors from seven various countries, in collab with Edinburgh theatre Assembly Roxy, as well as we filmed, with a finacial support of Polish General Consulate in Edinburgh, Polish classic mini play by Aleksander Fredo – Świeczka zgasła, directed by Inka Dowlasz and available online on ewejsciowki.pl Moreover, we take part in Polish National Reading UK Events. As bilingual theatre, we promote idea of bilingualism and multilingualism not only via performing in two languages but also by taking part in other, external initiatives such as international campaign Give your child the gift of your native language within cooperation with APPLA (Association for the Promotion of Polish Language Abroad) / Language is a window on the world film or taking part in VII National Theatre Festival on “I” Stage in Krakow with our Youth theatre group with an English performance Mrs Twardowska all roads lead to Rome. We also support literary and publishing initiatives; on the 100th anniversary of Poland’ regaining its independence, ‘s Independance Day, our theatre became the honorary patron of the poetry collection “Shades of Polish Poetry 1918 – 2018” published by Puffin Print Limited in collaboration with the poet Irena Ewa Idzikowska. MOS is member of Forum of Polish Organizations in Scotland (FOPS) and from 2022 belongs to the Union of Polish Theatres Abroad.

prESS

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prESS

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I wholeheartedly recommend your outstanding work in creating a much-needed theatre company for Polish children living in Scotland. All the children involved have proved conclusively that they have benefitted from being involved in your theatre programmes. They have come to understand clearly their Polish, and therefore their European, cultural heritage.

Your extraordinary commitment to your theatre provides me with all the proof I need that every human being is an artist, particularly when they are young and that the experience of being involved in the theatre in itself is a perfect example of how the language of all the arts is vital to the education of young people at primary and early secondary levels. You deserve all the support possible from the Polish community in Scotland, and indeed the people of Scotland who have clearly benefitted from the physical presence of the burgeoning Polish community.

I was deeply moved by your theatre’s contribution to that memorable event in the Scottish Parliament. I only wish that all the member of The Scottish Parliament could have shared my experience. I am fully prepared to help you in every way that I can.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Richard Demarco CBE

READ HERE May Lux Magazine

The Mirror of Stage (MOS) is an Anglo-Polish theatre project based in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. Apart from the production of Polish and English performances, we are engaged in the production of a variety of educational and artistic activities, such as drama workshops for all ages, acting lessons, themed, costume photo sessions in collaboration with Mr. Bumble’s Photobooth atelier, costume rental and many others. It all started a few years ago, with art and theatre classes I conducted at one of the Polish Saturday schools in Edinburgh. Over time, as the projects continued, my youth group became a regular youth theatre, together with stage collaborations with adult actors, which made our subsequent performances intergenerational productions. We had our English-language debut in the Scottish Parliament, during the Celebrating Diversity Day in Scotland – Polish Culture and Language event, where we staged an English version of established Polish author Adam Mickiewicz’s ballad “Mrs Twardowska”, adapted and expanded for the needs of spectators who may need to be introduced to the adventures of Master Twardowski.

TEAM

Pat Zajac (Patrycja Zając)

Founder, Actor, Artistic Director, Music, Costumes

Pat is a bilingual actress, theatre-maker and drama instructor, graduated from Drama School and College of Therapy Through Theatre Art in Krakow, Poland; English acting, performing and directing qualifications she gained at Trinity London College, Acting Out Drama School, Edinburgh Acting School and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Another area of her creative activity is composing and digital art. She also runs Mr B.Atelier in Edinburgh

www.patzajac.com

Stephen Corrall

Actor

Stephen is an award winning Edinburgh based actor who has been involved in many stage, TV and screen productions, including the Netflix mini series The Puppet Master and the Amazon Prime series A True Mismatch. His stage credits include Edinburgh Fringe productions The Collie’s Shed, One Sugar Stirred to the Left and The Satyricon. In MOS he’s in the cast of Wawel Dragon and Moliere’s Garden Party.

(IG links): Stephen Corrall] @thecolliesshed @thesatyriconplay

Mikolaj Figiel

Actor, Stage Tech

Mikolaj is a bilingual actor, who has been in collab with us since he was a child and then teenager in many productions of our Youth Theatre Group and multigenerational projects. Now, you can see him in such productions as Wawel Dragon, Moliere’s Garden Party, various Tales From A Suitcase and Mickiewicz w Waszej Szkole. Mikolaj works in MOS also as a stage crew member within various shows and projects.

Ashley Barlow

Actor, Director

Ashley Barlow is an Edinburgh based actor, director, and producer. After qualifying in 2020 she has been involved in several productions on screen and on stage. Her passion for classical theatre has led to her being cast in classical female roles such as Lady Macbeth, Lysistrata and Moliere’s Dorimene. Ashley uses physical theatre skills that bring alternative elements to her characters. On screen she favours more of the horror scene and has been cast in the series Priesthood as well as being involved the independent film Out To Kill. Her horror aspirations are not just for screen as she produced, directed and starred the stage production of The Afterdeath at 2022’s Edinburgh Horror Festival. Ashley is also one of three producers of the Female-lead production company Luvana, this company aims to empower women in the creative industry and produce female lead work for both stage and screen. Ashley loves playing with many different genres and relishes in the challenges each of them bring. In MOS she can be seen in the cast of Wawel Dragon and Moliere’s Garden Party, where she is also AD.

Adam Barnett

Actor

Adam is an Edinburgh based actor who studied with EAS. He has performed both on and off stage and enjoys performing both comedic and also more dramatic roles. Some examples of recent work would be Birdboot in The Real Inspector Hound. Also King Duncan in Macbeth. Examples of film roles Adam has performed in would be Doctor Jones in, Ten with a Flag and a fisherman in the Harry Styles music video Adore You. With MOS he is involved in the casts of Wawel Dragon and Moliere’s Garden Party.

Justyna Bernadetta Banasiak

Puppets & Costumes

Justyna Bernadetta Banasiak is a multiskilled artist, set designer, sculptor, teacher, puppets designer and maker. In 2012, she took part in the collective exhibition Sighs of Stones, Gallery of Scenography in Krakow, Poland. Other participants were: J. Skarżyński, A. Wajda, K. Zachwatowicz – Wajda. She was honored in the Jerzy Moskal’s Competition for the Scenography Award in the the 2nd edition of the NEW SCENOGRAPHY FESTIVAL for the model and puppets for To Damascus, A. Srtindberg, under the supervision of Dr. hab. prof. Academy of Fine Arts M. Komorowska. IN 2020 she won GRAND PRIX FOR THE SHOW “A NIECH TO GES KOPNIE!” dir. J. Zdrady IN THE 4TH EDITION OF TEATROTEKA FEST. She cooperates with many puppet and dramatic theaters in Poland and abroad, including Duda Paiva Company from Amsterdam and Puppentheater Zwickau, Germany.

www.justynabanasiak.pl

Joanna Mogilnitskiy

Actor, Choreographer, Director, Costumes

Joanna graduated from the State Academy of Theatre Arts in Saint Petersburg, she performs in Polish, English and Russian. She is also author of a soloshow “Ocalona. Historia prawdy” based on the autobiography of Sarah Forsyth. Currently works as a director and manager of the Cooperative Cultural Center in Bielawa. She lives in the countryside, loves nature, her hobby is painting. She is in the cast of MOS’s productions of Three Sisters – Beyond Time/Trzy siostry – Poza Czasem as Olga. She is also author of the choreography for this play.

Łukasz Leszkiewicz

Actor, Dancer, Choreographer

Lukasz is a multilingual actor, performer and dancer who has already worked with us with past production of DZIADY II FRAGMENTY – FOREFATHERS’ EVE II EXCERPTS and in the first cast of WAWEL DRAGON. Lukasz also performed the Husband for the purpose of all teasers and trailers as well as VO actor in the production of WHISPERS/PODSZEPTY.

Annie Cook

Actor

Annie is an actor, director, and producer based in Edinburgh. She graduated in Film & Media at the University of Stirling BA (Hons) before going on to do some democratic activist work including directing films for the Scottish Government. She did a diploma in Acting and Voice graduating with distinction from Trinity London College, Edinburgh Acting School in 2020. Annie recently co-founded her own theatre & film company called Warped Productions LTD. She was part of the previous Production of The Wheel of Misfortune for the fringe and Horror Festival which will be reprising again in 2023. Her other recent credits include Joy in Sauce and Maxine in Hot Sauce (play), Princess Wanda in MOS’s Wawel Dragon (play) and Grace in Solar Urticaria (film). You can sometimes see her as a witch known as Blair Witch flying around town witch-touring.

Sandrine Urquhart

Actor

Sandrine is a French actress based and trained in Edinburgh, where she performed in Ellen McLaughlin’s Lysistrata and Shakespeare’s Macbeth, amongst others. She was last seen incarnating an otherworldly judge in The Afterdeath at Edinburgh Horror Festival and is very excited to come back amongst the living as Nicole inMOS’s Moliere’s Garden Party. Sandrine is as curious as her character and spends most of her spare time learning new skills. At the moment, if you cannot find her in her sewing room, you may want to try the tango school!

Michał Ichnowski

Actor

Michał is a bilingual theatre actor based in Edinburgh. With MOS from a few years now, he was in cast of several productions. Currently can be seen in two performances: Świeczka zgasła and Wawel Dragon.

Marta Mazur

Actor, Film Director

Marta is a bilingual theatre and film actress, living in London on a daily basis, where she graduated from acting studies at Rose Bruford College and Drama Studio London. Before leaving for college, she studied acting with Małgorzata Szczerbowska and took part in the performances of the Kalambur Theater and TdP (Hanoch Levin’s Winter Funeral, directed by Piotr Łukaszczyk). For half a year, she has been a member of the Dangerosity group, where she plays and directs. She can be seen in MOS’s productions of Three Sisters – Beyond Time/Trzy siostry – Poza Czasem as Irina.

Robert Litwin

Actor

Robert is a Polish actor fluent in English, currently based in Edinburgh. Though he’s to complete his Masters this year in ‘Acting for Stage and Screen’ at Napier University, he’s already gathered experience in theatre, film, commercial and even voiceover, including the movies “Leave no Traces” and “Hungarian Women”. In the most recent Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023, he performed a Solo act titled “Things to do in Mull”. He’s also explored online opportunities in Voiceover, landing a role in the independent project “Fallout: Nuevo Mexico”. He joined MOS’s team as a Monsieur Tailor in Moliere’s Garden Party production.

Spotlight profile

Łukasz Żujwoda

Scenography

Łukasz designes and creates setips, props and costumes. He is passionate about Cosplay; winner of multiple awards on national and international comic-cons.

Collab

Could it be You?

Are you a Creative? Theatre maker? Professional one? Amateur passioned about the performing arts? Looking for a job, advanture, partner in your project? Or maybe you’d like to gain some work experience, looking for a place for your internships? And maybe you just want to share your ideas with other Creatives or try to figure out how to put them on stage? MOS does constantly looks for people to collab with in a various areas of theatre – contact us today and join our team!

CONTACT

MOS Theatre

GUEST COLLABORATION:

ACTORS: Storrada Hird – Drużyna Wojów Świętosławy, Daniele Silvan, Lynsey Walker, Amandine Le Marchand, Alberto Saiz Varona, Anthony Zeitoun, Víctor Martínez Prieto, Andre Anderson, Holly Wagner, Roland Rajzer, Paweł Kopeć, Kiro Żabińska, Konrad Oleksiewicz, Agata Kmieć, , Alistair Wales, Steven Mcdonald, Lily Pietrzak, Karolina Oleśkiewicz, Suzanne Senior, Monika Klisch

DIRECTORS: Inka Dowlasz, Łukasz Fijał, Kate Diuk

WRITERS: Charles S. Kraszewski, Beata Furgalska, Ewa Żabińska, Kate Diuk, Katie Overstall

LIGHTICIANS: Magdalena Jednorowicz

MUSIC: Marcel Borowiec

VO ACTORS: Andrzej Róg, Joanna Kańska, Mateusz Kobiałka, Ray Calleja, Aryan Stanley, Suzanne Senior, Wendy Lap, Roland Rajzer, Ewa Chałupa, Beata Furgalska, Katarzyna Stępień, Marcel Borowiec, Aleksander Fiałek, Jarosław Szwec, Łukasz Fijał, Jarosław Ciepichał, Albert Opolski, Małgorzata Wrońska, Łukasz Moskalik, Magdalena Włodarczyk – Sroka, Łukasz Zapłotny, Zbigniew Sieciechowski

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Barbara Eva Photography, Mariusz Perkowski, Agata Chrobak, Katia Opuntia, Jurij Grigorovic, Kate Diuk

SCENOGRAPHY, EDUCATION: Elżbieta Struglińska

PARTNERS