The nationwide scientific conference “Karol Wojtyla’s dramatic work. Contexts and references” was held on May 23rd. at 9.00 A.M. in the Theater Room at Jana Pawla Square 1 in Wadowice. It was organized by the Holy Father John Paul II Family Home Museum and the Laboratory of History of Drama 1864-1939 at the Institute of Polish Literature (The Faculty of Polish Studies at the University of Warsaw).

The aim of the conference was a scientific reflection on Karol Wojtyla’s dramas – both in the historical and theoretical perspective. Discussed were – in particular – the previously unknown contexts of Wojtyla’s dramas, as well as the themes that require renditions.

Among the invited speakers were prominent scientists, representatives of many Polish universities and institutions, among others Prof. Wojciech Kaczmarek, Prof. Mirosława Ołdakowska – Kuflowa, Prof. Maria Jolanta Olszewska, Dr. Emanuela Bednarczyk – Stefaniak and Dr. Marta Burghardt.

The conference is a part of a series of events organized by the Museum, in preparation for the solemn celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the birth of John Paul II in 2020.

Detailed program of the event:

9.00 a.m. – 9.20 a.m. Ceremonial opening of the conference – Rev. Dr. Jacek Pietruszka (the Holy Father John Paul II Family Home Museum in Wadowice):  TheHoly Father John Paul II Family Home Museum yesterday and today
SESSION I

9.20 a.m. – 9.40 a.m. Prof. Wojciech Kaczmarek (The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin): Karol Wojtyla’s theater concept

9.40 a.m. – 10.00 a.m. Dr. Marta Burghardt (Intercultural Dialogue Institute of John Paul II in Krakow): Karol Wojtyla’s youth drama as a prelude to the rhapsodic style

10.00 a.m. -10.20 a.m. Sister Joanna Żuk (The Ursuline School Complex in Rybnik): Faterhood and motherhood in the plays of Karol Wojtyla

10.20 a.m. – 10.40 a.m. Prof. Mirosława Ołdakowska-Kuflowa (The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin): „Unspoken”. God in the work of Karol Wojtyla

10.40 a.m. – 11.10 a.m. coffee break and discussion
SESSION II

11.10 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. Prof. Maria Jolanta Olszewska (University of Warsaw) – The image of Brother Albert in the plays of Adam Bunsch and Karol Wojtyla

11.30 a.m. – 11.50 a.m.  Dr. Emanuel Bednarczyk-Stefaniak (The Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wrocław): The liberation from the tyranny of mind as a condition of the contemplative life. Karol Wojtyla’s drama „Brother of our God” in the light of the encyclical „Fides et ratio”

11.50 a.m. – 12.10 p.m. Michał Zdunik (University of Warsaw): Wojtyla – playwright (post) modernist? Notes on the formal novelty „In front of the Jeweler’s Store”

12.10 p.m. – 12.30 p.m. Dr Anna Karoń-Ostrowska (Centre for Thought of John Paul II, The Jesuit University Ignatianum in Krakow): „Radiation of fatherhood” that is existence between loneliness and love

12.30 p.m. – 01.00 p.m. discussion

01.00 p.m. – 03.00 p.m. Visit in the Holy Father John Paul II Family Home Museum in Wadowice, lunch break

03.00 p.m. – 03.20 p.m. Rev. Dr. Grzegorz Głąb (The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin) – „Jeremy” Karol Wojtyla. Phenomenology of suffering

03.20 p.m. – 03.40 p.m. Magdalena Żmudziak (The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin) – National contexts of Karol Wojtyla’s drama „Jeremy”

03.40 p.m. – 04.00 p.m. Rev. Ph. D. Stefan Radziszewski (Higher School of Commerce in Radom) – The yelp of the righteous  – a few comments on Karol Wojtyla’s „Jpb”

04.00 p.m. – 04.20 p.m. Ph. D. Anna Stanka (The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin) – Wojtyla and Zegadłowicz – close to each other or far? Around the artistic vision of the theater

04.20 p.m. – 04.50 p.m. discussion and conclusion of the conference