Fourteen years ago, an idea was born to play with Polish literature, poetry for children. Thanks to our extraordinary masters, we have a lot to choose from. That way, in 1999, theatre Het Klein in Eindhoven held the 1st Wierszowisko, i.e. Polish Poetry Festival for Children. The main character of this meeting was Julian Tuwim.
Children of Polish Saturday schools, affiliated to the Polish Forum of Schools in Netherlands, have raised to participate in the competition. It was colorful, loud, funny and emotional. The ending was the most memorable to me (everything, from the beginning to the end, remain a blurred memory, because there was so much work to do, it’s good I at least remember that!). In the foyer of the theatre I was surrounded by children from different schools, who were outshouting each other: “Maggie, Maggie, whose poems will be used in a year!!!???” I looked at their faces, some were happy over winning, some resolved with intent, that they will do better in a year, full of anticipation. I knew one thing: that was a hit in the spot. I believe that I wouldn’t do it, for all these years, if it was for adults. Indeed, we spent over a dozen years of hard work on children. They come back to us in individual and group performances, and more often as part of organization crew. Please bear in mind that some of them started 14 years ago, having barely 4 years! Parents, whose children which “grew out” of our schools, now participate in works on Wierszowisko and also support and sponsor the management of FPSN. As you can see. It’s hard to part with this event for good!
Ah yes, I wrote much already, but it’s still unclear what Wierszowisko is really all about? It’s an extract from our website: “For us, the people associated with FPSN, it is an extraordinary event. One day, on one stage, pupils of our schools gather. We spend the whole day together, get to know each other, compete, but also learn from each other.
Who comes to Wierszowisko?
The most precious energy collects in one room that our community has in children, young people and their caregivers. Everyone want to be together, learn Polish literature, to speak Polish in the most lovely manner. We show the next generations that the Polish language, though difficult, is also a very beautiful language. You cannot convey it any better than through works of Brzechwa, Tuwim and more or less well-known Polish poets, who wrote and still write beautiful texts for children. Currently, all complain on indifference, a lack of motivation, lack of time and a lot of other things. Therefore, the fact that every year we all meet at the next Festival is so special. Everyone feel it’s worthwhile to practice with their children at home, to prepare them for their roles, make decorations, sew costumes. Once a child give a keen interest in Wierszowisko, it does get rid of it so quickly. That’s why graduates ask to remember them at the casting of the subsequent performances. We have provided the principles of our Festival to Polish Society in London, which has organized its first Wierszowisko event on the British Isles in May 2012.”
For the last 10 years we’ve been meeting in the Cultural Centre Maldensteijn in Malden, near Nijmegen. Pupils of thirteen Polish schools present themselves, reciting Polish poetry, gathered in the Forum, between the ages of 4 to 13 and invited guests. Approximately 100 children perform on the stage! Appearances are divided in four age categories in Individual Performances:
- from 4 to 6 years
- from 7 to 9 years
- from 10 to 13 years
In the Group Performances there are groups-representatives of 13 Polish schools in the Kingdom of Netherlands, in mini theater studios, based on the selected topic. Guests are also most welcomed. Those, who honored us with their presence, include Ania Kaszuba-Dębska (author of our Wierszowisko logo!), Łukasz Dębski, whose poetry was recited by children in 2004, former singer Kasia Klich, writer Łukasz Wierzbicki. Also Ms Beata Scibakówna, an actress of National Theatre in Warsaw, has, for the first time, led the event in 2013. Ms Senator Barbara Borys-Damięcka has continuously supported us for 4 years. Polish community in London has already decided to organize a similar festival. We know that there are others willing to. It makes us very happy, because as you can see from the experience, Polish poetry for children constantly inspires, entertains, teaches, moves and intrigue younger and younger generations.
You can find more information about Wierszowisko on our website Wierszowisko. It features the subjects of consecutive Festivals, lists of our winners, photos, and more of my impressions, written off each year, the day after Wierszowisko.
Here you can see pictures of Wierszowisko 2013, by courtesy of Gosia Lubbers-Dąbrowska: photos and film