PROTOTYPE / PROTOTÜÜP

ABOUT
An international physical theatre production blending puppetry and cinematic storytelling to explore the enigma that is Jerzy Kosinski, the controversial Polish-American author of "The Painted Bird" and "Being There". This production repurposes events from Kosinski’s life and work and explores his lifelong re-imagining of reality - a survival response to the terrors he faced during WWII, but which ultimately led to his personal and professional downfall. PROTOTYPE is an exploration of ‘creative survival’ and an artist who was born out of trauma.

Using life-size puppets and hyper-realistic masks, 4 performer-puppeteers portray the story of an author confronting his demons through a hallucinatory flow of interwoven scenes, utilizing physical and visual storytelling elements to convey the fragmented and jarring images from the life of this forgotten mythmaker.

CREDITS
Concept, Direction: Viktor Lukawski
Dramaturgy: Bobby Theodore
Developed in collaboration with the company

Puppet Design: Pascale Blaison
Set Design: Kristel Maamägi
Video Design: Taavi Varm
Sound Design: Kirill Havanski
Lighting Design: Priidu Adlas
Costume Design: Michelle Tracey
Stage Manager: Tamara Vuckovic
Director’s Assistant: Taavi Tõnisson
Executive Producer: Kendra Bator

Performers: Andreu Martinez Costa, Adam Paolozza, Teele Uustani, Viktor Lukawski

INFO
Duration: 60-75 mins.
For adults and teenagers aged 14+
Performance is in English.

Premiered: September 8th-12th, Tallinn, Estonia @ Sakala 3
Touring: Canada in 2025

COPRODUCTION & SUPPORT
Co-produced with Figurteatret i Nordland (Nordland Visual Theatre). Produced in partnership with Why Not Theatre and Eesti Noorsooteater.

Developed with support from the Canada Council for the Arts’ New Chapter Program, the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund, the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Eesti Kultuurkapital (KULKA). Supported by and developed at the Harbourfront Centre Performing Arts Residency Program (Canada).