On the Common Good: The Institution of the Chorus and Images of a Nation in Marta Górnicka’s Theatre

Abstract

In the present text, I would like to examine images of ‘nation as community’ in Marta Górnicka’s theatre. By analysing the performative reading of Konstytucja na Chór Polaków [Constitution for a Chorus of Poles] and the production of Hymn do Miłości [Hymn to Love] (Warsaw, 2 May 2016 and 21 January 2017, respectively), I would like to argue that Górnicka’s theatre deliberately comes to grips with the category of Polish nationality, in that it not only alludes to such crucial artefacts of a nation as constitution, national anthem or poetry that is a vital part of the Polish cultural canon – but also makes references to current political developments, both in Poland and across Europe. The chorus plays a unique role in Górnicka’s theatre: regarded as an institution separating diegetic universes, it presents a prismatic image of a community in which the concept of what is recognised as alien and our own is reconfigured. In addition, the chorus plays the role of a critically minded character, exposing the current rise of nationalist tendencies, and the aporias of our liberal democracy.