Agnieszka Blonska

Qualifications

Honors and awards

Research interests and expertise

Agnieszka has a particular interest in subjects of identity, social change and personal story in relation to a society. In her work she involves a variety of forms including participatory and performative theatre exploring the boundaries of traditional understanding of drama and play. Agnieszka applies devising methods and improvisation, often examining deconstruction and non-linear approach to a performance.

Research topics

• Devising and Improvisation
• Dramaturgy and Composition
• Participatory Theatre
• Performative Theatre.
• Autoethnography and Theatre
• Ecofeminism
• Politics of pleasure
• Identity
• Storytelling 
• Inequality
• Feminism, Herstory, Theatre and Performance

Areas of teaching

• Composition
• Devising
• Directing
• improvisation
• Physical Theatre
• Production and Performance

Courses taught

• Theatre & Performance BA(Hons)
• Acting BA(Hons)

Engagement with organisations which contribute to the development of educational, cultural or socio-economic policies in Cornwall

• Hall For Cornwall, Truro; Associate Artist
• Kerpow (Kernow Power of Women), Co-founder and Co-director
• imPOSSIBLE
• CAST
• Tate St Ives
• Feast Cornwall

Independent professional practice

2023 (ongoing) director, Re: Voice, a participatory theatre performance with Tuesday Night Fun Time choir led by Vicky Abbott, created in collaboration as a part of the international academic research exploring themes of intangible cultural heritage, identity and minority perspectives, produced by imPOSSIBLE in collaboration with Falmouth University and Tate St Ives.
2023 (ongoing) co director with Jennifer Fletcher, We’ve Been Here, R&D of a community project with grandmothers in Penwith exploring themes of grandmotherhood and female resilience, produced by Hannah Brady, supported by ACE, RIO Plymouth, Feast, Immersive Business (Falmouth University), Creative England, Garbo House and Salomon Browne Hall 
2022 (ongoing) director, Orlando. Biografie (Orlando. Biographies), inspired by V. Wolf’s novel Orlando, dramaturgy Olga Byrska and ensemble; Teatr Powszechny, Warsaw, Poland 
2022 (ongoing) director, Help! I Think I’m a Nationalist, a solo comedy show with Seamas Carey, produced by him and imPOSSIBLE; regional and national tour; Cornwall, UK 
2021 director, Feast: Ingredients of Us, R&D participatory theatre project in collaboration with T. Fatehi Irani and G. Tan; Projekt Europa; The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, UK
2021 co-director with Jennifer Fletcher, We’ve Been Here, a series of short 7 films; online
2021 co-organizer, One Billion Rising, a global dance event against violence towards women and girls, online; in collaboration with K. Goodey, C. Bunker, H. Tiplady, E. Alden, R. Mordan and in association with The Women’s Centre Cornwall, UK; Truro, UK
2020 co-organizer and co-director, Kerpow’s Vibin, online event for women in Cornwall; in collaboration with K. Goodey, C. Bunker, H. Tiplady, E. Alden, R. Mordan and in association with The Women’s Centre Cornwall, UK
2020 co-organizer, One Billion Rising, a global dance event against violence towards women and girls, joining from Truro in Cornwall; in collaboration with K. Goodey, C. Bunker, H. Tiplady, E. Alden, R. Mordan and in association with The Women’s Centre Cornwall, UK; Truro, UK
2019 (ongoing) director, "Diably" ("Devils"), based on motifs from "Mother Joan of Angels" by J. Iwaszkiewicz, dramaturgy: J. Wichowska; Teatr Powszechny, Warsaw, Poland
2018 director, "Polish Vermin"presented as a part of Festival (Happy City/Atlas of Transitions) at Teatr Powszechny, Warsaw, Poland
2017 (ongoing), director, “Mefisto” (“Mephisto”), inspired by K. Mann’s novel and a film by I. Szabo “Mephisto”, dramaturgy J. Wichowska; Teatr Powszechny, Warsaw, Poland
2017 voice over, “I’m Sticking With You” by Tim Crouch; Pebble Gorge, UK
2017 (ongoing), director, “Polish Vermin” R&D, devised in collaboration with P. Kujawska, M. Iwanowski and B. Bower; Ferment Bristol Old Vic, Arnolfini, Newlyn Art Gallery, FEAST and Kneehigh Theatre, UK
2016, director, “Seamas Carey Meets His 4 Year Old Self, With a Choir”, musical director Seamas Carey and Victoria Abbott, Newlyn Art Gallery, Newlyn, UK
2016, co-director with Roza Sarkisian, “Mij Did kopav, Mij Batko kopav, a ja ne budu” (“My Grandad was digging, My Dad was digging, and I won’t”), dramaturgy J. Wichowska and D. Levitsky, Gogolfest, Kiev, Ukraine and Ukraine tour
2016 director, “Praskie Si-Fi” (“Praga’s Sci-Fi”), dramaturgy J. Wichowska, Teatr Powszechny, Warsaw, Poland
2016 director, “Wild Women”, R&D of FreeFall Dance production, HFC, Cornwall, UK
2015 director, “Rape. Voices”, dramaturgy S. Chutnik, produced by Association STER and Teatr Powszechny, Warsaw, Poland
2015 (ongoing) director, “F.E.A.R.”, a devised solo performance in collaboration with Gareth Clark, Experimentica Festival, Cardiff, UK
2014 (ongoing) director, “Once Upon a Time”, a devised performance, produced by Theatre Bristol, Circomedia and Polish Cultural Institute; Bristol and UK tour
2015 movement consultant, “Academy of Risk”, dir. Ben Symes, Truro Collage and Edinburgh Fringe, UK
2015 co-organiser with Merecedes Kemp and director, “Dreaming In A Desert Place. Tunisia, benefit evening” Newlyn Art Gallery, Newlyn, UK
2015 co-director with Mercedes Kemp, R&D Wildworks Theatre, Dream City, Tunis, Tunisia
2014-2015 co-director with Vicky Abbott, “The End of The Line”, theatrical choir event, 50 Degrees Choir, Penzance; Giving Voice Festival, Performance Centre, Falmouth, UK
2014 co-ordinator/director, “People Have Voice”, an evening dedicated to Ukraine and Maidan victims, Performance Centre, Falmouth University, Cornwall, UK
2013-2015 director, “Eintopf”, part of an international project Taburopa, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Poland 2013 acting, “Grandfather Frost’s Christmas Depot”, role: Elf Ilbryth, Mercurial Wrestler, Penzance, UK
2013 acting, “Magna Misteria” (tour), role: Morellini Sister, Mercurial Wrestler, UK
2013 director, “Fale” (“The Waves”) by V.Woolf, Teatr Ochoty, Warsaw, Poland
2012-2013 acting, “Chimera”, role: Calypso, two R&D’s, Wildworks Theatre, Tehidy Woods, Cornwall, UK
2011-2012 assistant director to Bill Mitchell, “Babel”, Wildworks Theatre, London, UK
2011-2014 director, “Grubasy” (“Fatties”), a devised performance, Theatre Institute, Warsaw, Poland
2010-2011 acting, “The Enchanted Palace”, a theatre instalation, Wildworks Theatre, Kensington Palace, London, UK
2008-2011 acting, “The Maze”, role: Hedge Lady, DotComedy Theatre, UK and Australia
2010 writer, deviser and performer, “I”, a solo show, dir. By R. Smith, Bristol Old Vic Theatre, Bristol; South Street Arts Centre, Reading, UK
2010 acting, “The Pig Pen Riots”, Desperate Men Theatre, Glasgow, UK
2010 coordinator of the actors’ initiative, “Decameron”, Theatre in Walbrzych,  Poland
2009 director, “Maria Stuart” by J. Slowacki, Theatre Institute, Warsaw, Poland
2009 acting, “Ghosts of Portland Square”, dir. by N. Hughes, Bristol, UK
2009-2011 director, “Byl sobie Dziad i Baba” (“Once upon a time...”), Theatre Institute, Warsaw, Poland and National Theatre, Warsaw, Poland 
2009 acting, “The Beautiful Journey”, role: Kalipso, Wildworks Theatre, UK
2009 director, “Exportowcy” by J. Papis, Theatre in Koszalin, Poland
2008 director, “Milosierdzie Gminy” (“Village’s Mercy”) by M.Konopnicka, adapt. K.Ratnicyn, Theatre in Walbrzych, Poland
2008 director, “Next Village”, R&D, devised, National Theatre Studio, London, UK
2008 director, “This Gypsy is not a Gypsy, it’s surely an Afghan Terrorist”, a read through based on internet forums, Jeleniogorski Theatre, Jelenia Gora, Poland
2008 assistant director to Lisa Goldman, “A Couple of Poor Polish-Speaking Romanians” by D.Maslowska, Soho Theatre, London, UK
2007 acting, “The Severn River Project”, role: Countess, Desperate Men Theatre, UK
2007 acting, “Souterrain”, role: Euridice, Wildworks Theatre, France and UK
2007 director, "Vincent River" by P.Ridley, Alma Theatre, Bristol, UK
2007 assistant director, “Blue Remembered Hills” by D.Potter, text project, BOVTS, Bristol, UK
2007 assistant director to S. Wilson, “Wide Awake”, “Elixir of Love” by G.Sullivan, radio plays, adapt. by S.Wilson; BOVTS, Bristol, UK
2007 director of a read through "Escape" by Adrian Harris, South West Writers Group, Bristol Old Vic, Bristol, UK
2007 director and writer, “The Wind Up”, a short film, UK
2006 assistant director, “Wind in the Willows” adapted by J.Hartoch, BOVTS, Redgrave Theatre, Bristol, UK
2006 director of scenes from “The Bacchae” by Eurypides, BOVTS, Bristol, UK
2006 director of scenes from “After Liverpool” by J. Saunders, BOVTS, Bristol, UK
2006 acting, 'Rubbish Heads', 'FilmCrew', ‘Pirates’ (tour) Desperate Men, Bristol, UK
2005 acting and co-directing, “The Hollow Men”, Equaldoubt Theatre, WiD project, Chapter Arts, Cardiff, UK
2005 acting and co-directing, “3”, Equaldoubt and Darkmen, Chapter, Cardiff, UK
2005 co-director of a youth theatre project 'Interiors', Sherman Theatre, Cardiff, UK
2005 acting, “Phantasma”, dir. Sean Tuan John, WMC, Cardiff, UK
2005 acting, “Stroll in The Park”, Desperate Men, Castle Park, Bristol, UK
2005 acting,“Miracle Show” (tour), role: Krusza, Desperate Men, Bristol, UK
2004 acting and co-directing, “Suffocation” (international tour), Equaldoubt Theatre, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, UK
2004 acting and co-directing, "Walking on the roof", School of Physical Theatre, London, UK

Engagement with professional associations and societies

• Member of 2021 Island, imPOSSIBLE
• EQUITY, a union for professional performers and creative practitioners
• 2022 - ongoing Artistic Advisor for Projekt Europa