Based on a True Story
Our brand-new baby—the first edition of the international documentary theater festival *Based on a True Story*—will take place next week, from September 29 to October 2, at ARŠA+.
This project is a collaboration between ARCHA+ (Czech Republic), Komuna Warszawa (Poland), and Projekt Batyskaf (Slovakia), curated by Adam Dragun and Olga Ciężkowska.
It focuses on contemporary theater and performance practices that employ documentary approaches in the post-truth era. It asks what the motto “based on a true story” actually means today in an age of authoritarianism, propaganda, and social media.
As part of “Based on a True Story,” you can look forward to three main evenings, each featuring a curatorial discussion at 6:00 p.m. followed by a theater performance at 8:00 p.m.
On Tuesday, September 29, we’ll kick things off with a discussion on drawing on personal experience in creative work. This will be followed by the theater performance *Titty Killer* by Orin Rodriguez and Kirikou Gueye, which explores gender, transition, personal transformation, and the search for an answer to how one can become a good person in the endless process of becoming oneself.
On Wednesday, September 30, the evening will open with a debate titled “Can Theater Think?” featuring Adam Dragun, Wojtek Ziemilski, and Eva Priečková. This will be followed by the production *Dýmostroj*, which uses smoke technology to explore changes in the conditions of vision, the perception of reality, conspiracy theories, and personal experiences.
On Thursday, October 1, the debate will focus on “The Body as a Documentary Tool.” This will be followed by the performance *Behold My Body*, which moves from the intimate history of a single body and established rituals to a collective experience, exploring how systems of power shape our perception of ourselves and the world.
Of course, we also have the FESTIVAL PASS ⬇, which grants you access to all three performances and debates at the festival. But if you’d rather not, that’s fine—you can also purchase tickets individually. We offer a student discount on everything.
We look forward to seeing you there!