The Woods
The Woods is an epic allegorical drama set in a forest haunted by the legacies of genocide. It tells the story of a family living in the aftermath of a national catastrophe — a family that becomes a microcosm for a country’s moral reckoning. Through its intergenerational narrative, the play explores how power, guilt, and survival echo across time, and whether it is possible for descendants of both victims and perpetrators to imagine a shared future.
At its core, The Woods asks how people inherit history — and whether remembering is enough to heal what has been broken. It is a haunting and deeply human story about the fragility of progress and the cost of hope.
The work draws inspiration from the moral and historical landscapes of Central Europe, while engaging universal questions about responsibility, identity, and the persistence of memory. Its theatrical language merges naturalism and allegory, echoing the work of writers such as Caryl Churchill, Tony Kushner, and Tadeusz Słobodzianek (Our Class).
“This will be a major Polish premiere, positioning a new Canadian work at the centre of one of Europe’s leading state theatres. It is rare for a Canadian playwright to be presented at this level in Poland, and it speaks to the significance of Rubenfeld’s artistic practice and the resonance of The Woods within Polish cultural discourse.
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By Michael Rubenfeld
Directed by Alan Dilworth
A Teatr Polski Bydgoszcz production in association with FestivAlt Kraków and Necessary Angel Theatre Company
On Stage beginning June, 2026
CAST
Anja Bieżyńska, Zhenia Doliak, Adam Graczyk, Kacper Kurcius, Michał Jan Meller | Kamil Rodek, Dagmara Mrowiec-Matuszak, Michael Rubenfeld (guest appearance)
CREATIVE
Michael Rubenfeld | Playwright
Iwona Nowacka | Translator
Alan Dilworth | Director
Marta Zalewska | Music
Lorenzo Savoini | Scenography
Magdalena Mucha | Costume Designer
Julia Dawidowska | Assistant Costume Designer
Robert Losicki |Lighting Designer
Emiko (milia Gumańska) | Video Designer
Zuzanna Medygrat | Assistant Director
Magdalena Niedźwiecka | Producer
Adam Pakieła | Stage Manager
