University of Warsaw
Red Bull Theater’s Sardanapalus & Global Watch Party Review
By Weronika M. Oleszczuk, MA, PhD candidate
WARSAW WATCHING SARDANAPALUS
The 28th of October was an important moment for our community – students from different faculties gathered together at the University of Warsaw to watch the Red Bull Theatre’s performance of Byron’s play – Sardanapalus. It was an extraordinary opportunity to be a part of a global event honouring the 200th anniversary of Byron's death, to connect with a large community and witness Byron’s work being brought to life. We all watched the play carefully, paying close attention and taking notes to discuss later. Many questions and problems emerged from the performance, fueling passionate discussions that emphasise the importance of the occasion.
We were surprised to learn that there was only one rehearsal, which took place just prior to the event. Despite this, the actors were great in their interpretations – breathing new life into characters that were different from what we’d imagined reading Byron’s work. Amir Arison’s captivating acting and choice to make Sardanapalus comical were refreshing and interesting decisions. As he and the director mentioned during the discussion after the play, it created space for breath, balancing the tragic nature of the story. It also highlighted the out-of-touch attitude that Sardanapalus had towards his people. The comic nature of Arison's Sardanapalus helped to differentiate the Byronic aspects of this character, making him even more alienated and individual. What also enhanced the viewing experience was the chemistry between actors, their creative freedom, and the visible fun that they were having while reading Byron’s work. Speaking of chemistry – we can’t forget about Shayvawn Webster’s Myrrha and Sanjit de Silva’s Salemenes and the way they greatly balanced the maniacal Sardanapalus.
One issue that was discussed a lot among the students was the chosen medium – staged reading. We talked about the benefits and the drawbacks of this solution. On the one hand we saw the great potential of it in arousing the imagination and the intimacy that it brings – we were able to be close to the characters, sympathise with them even more, focus on the people and their emotions – not being distracted by the scenography or the costumes. On the other hand – actors reading and not being able to raise their eyes above the text on the page created a distance, disturbed the important moments (e.g. Sardanapalus' death), created a wall between actors and audience.
In closing, we wanted to thank everyone involved in preparing and organising this event – the actors, the director, the Red Bull Theatre, the Keats-Shelley Association of America and especially Omar F. Miranda for inviting us to the Watch Party. Being a part of this great initiative shows us that Byron is still a very important writer who deeply understood humanity and was ahead of his time in capturing the complexities of human nature, emotions, and desires. His works continue to resonate with audiences across generations, reminding us of the timelessness of his insights and the enduring power of literature to connect us all. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to celebrate his legacy together in such an inspiring atmosphere.
