No Fear of Flying: A Celebration of Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska

Yesterday, for a change, I had that dream again..., about swimming in the air as if in water.

A rehearsed reading celebrating the lyrical, witty, and sometimes shocking works of the writer known as 'the Polish Sappho'. An introduction to Maria, her poetry and a script reading of a new production of her radio play, Portrait of Doom.

Born in 1891 into a family of Polish painters, Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska died in Manchester at the end of World War II. She inspired generations of readers with her deeply personal poetry and energised audiences with her confrontational plays, including her satire on Hitler which opened in Warsaw as Germany invaded. The exhibition 'Young Poland: An Arts & Crafts Movement (1890-1918)' reveals that she was also a superb visual artist. Having lived and written fearlessly, at the end of her life Maria chronicled the refugee experience in England.

Organised by Basia and Tony Howard. Funded by the Polish Cultural Institute in London with the support of the University of Warwick. Part of the Young Poland: An Arts & Crafts Movement (1890-1918) events programme at the William Morris Gallery.

After the performance, you are invited to a special tour of the Young Poland exhibition with Julia Griffin, Project Co-Curator.

Please note:

• Performance from 2pm to 3.30pm
• Optional tour of the Young Poland exhibition from 3.30pm to 4pm
• Please note that filming will be taken during the reading. This will be used for marketing and publicity in publications, website and social media for the Gallery and partner organisations.

Translation by Barbara Bogoczek and Tony Howard.

Cast: Peter Czajkowski,Tina Jones, Aliona Baranova and Will Bishop.