A meeting of music, poetry, and performance inspired by Patti Smith’s work. Eliza Borowska and Wojtek Mazolewski weave an open form of theater and concert, filtering Smith’s writings through their own artistic sensibilities. Expect raw emotion, reflection, and a journey through questions about art, meaning, and the human experience.

About

More than a performance, OK.NO is a profound encounter. A meeting between an Actress and a Musician. A meeting with Patti Smith and her timeless work.

Its open, fluid form dissolves boundaries, merging spoken word with sound, weaving together theatre and concert. This structure grants the Artists the freedom to explore their emotional landscapes, giving voice to their inner worlds through the powerful poetry and prose of the great American icon. Patti Smith’s genius is filtered through the unique sensitivities of Eliza Borowska and Wojtek Mazolewski, revealing their personal impressions, deep reflections, and profound fascinations.

The narrative is built on the bedrock of Patti Smith’s literary gems: ‘Just Kids’, ‘Woolgathering’, ‘M Train’, and ‘Year of the Monkey’, alongside stirring translations of her songs by Filip Łobodziński from the collection ‘Nie gódź się’. These chosen fragments traverse diverse life and creative stages – exploring the timeless search for one’s place in art, in society, and within a world that feels increasingly complex and heavy with challenges.

Wojtek Mazolewski’s evocative compositions, Eliza Borowska’s raw emotionality, and Ola Knedler’s striking space and visual design converge in this meeting. Here, Patti Smith’s work serves not just as inspiration, but as a powerful catalyst for fundamental questions; an urgent attempt to define oneself – as a human being, a creator, an artist.

Why do we create, and for whom?

Do our actions hold meaning?

Is it truly necessary to find the answers to these questions?

Or perhaps… it’s enough to just ask them?

Concept for the performance: Eliza Borowska, Wojtek Mazolewski

Featuring: Eliza Borowska, Wojtek Mazolewski

Music: Wojtek Mazolewski

Text selection and adaptation: Eliza Borowska, Wojtek Mazolewski

Directorial supervision: Janusz Opryński

Please note: the performance includes strobe effects, cigarette smoke, incense, and loud music.

Event Details

When: 7 June, 19.00-20.15
Where: The Old Theatre in Lublin
Admission: free, requires registration
Limit: 145 seats