Production Details

Granica / The Border
The Border oscillates between the acts of performance, ritual and ceremony; simultaneously a “rite of passage” or a moment of “receiving and giving." The Border attempts to create a new field, where time is only a moving image of eternity.

The Border takes as its focus the true story of transgendered Ukrainian performance artist, Antonina Romanova – a member of the Polish theatre ensemble, Teatr ZAR. Romanova was drafted into the Armed Forces of Ukrainian to fight against the invading Russian army in 2023. Initially the project was supposed to exist as a film documentary about Romanova's tour of duty. But when the war extended from months to years and Ukrainian troops were not demobilized, or even rotated from the front lines, it became a different type of exploration. Acknowledged in Edinburgh with a Fringe First Award in 2024, The Border was created from the need to raise awareness on behalf of those whose voices are in suspension.

Grotowski Instutute and Wachowicz / Fret Studio
The Grotowski Institute is a municipal art institution in Wrocław, Poland which combines artistic and research projects responding to the challenges laid down by the creative practice of the renowned Polish theatre director and researcher Jerzy Grotowski as well as documenting and spreading knowledge about his achievements. The Institute hosts theatre workshops, performances and training sessions dedicated to international public. Wachowicz / Fret Studio is an artistic tandem sponsored by the Institute. It is a forum and platform for the combined personalities, artistic research projects and common sensibilities of Monika Wachowicz and Jaroslaw Fret.

Artist Biographies

Monika Wachowicz
Monika Wachowicz graduated  in Philosophy at Silesian University in Katowice. She is an actress, theater instructor, educator and organizer of theater events. Monika has worked in cooperation with the Grotowski Institute in Wrocław since 2021.

Jarosław Fret
Jarosław Fret is the founder and leader of Teatr ZAR, theatre director and actor as well as the Director of the Grotowski Institute. He has directed several performances, concerts, films and an opera. He has originated and coordinated numerous Polish and international projects of the Grotowski Institute.