Ég kem alltaf aftur

Iðnó, Reykjavík Arts Festival 2020

Ég kem alltaf aftur/I Shall Always Return is an ode and a tribute to the Polish theatre director Tadeusz Kantor who's considered one of the most influential theatre artists of the 20th century. In 1990 Kantor visited Iceland with his theatre company Cricot 2 and performed I Shall Never Return at the Reykjavík Arts Festival. Thirty years later, Icelandic director Pálína Jónsdóttir, together with Polish and international artists, embarked on creating an interdisciplinary theatre production inspired by the work of Kantor.

I Shall Always Return corresponds to the master's artistry, investigating and questioning important current social realities, related to the immigration of Poles in Iceland. The project was presented and performed as "work-in-progress" at the Reykjavik Art Festival Club at Iðnó in August 2020, during a take-over of IÐNÓ by REYKJAVÍK ENSEMBLE.

Directed by Pálína Jónsdóttir, conceived together with a group of artists: Adam Świtała, Ewa Marcinek, Jördis Richter, Magdalena Tworek, Mao Alheimsdóttir, Karolina Bogusławska, Robert Zadorozny, Wiola Ujazdowska. Special thanks to Góði hirðirinn and Byko.

Supported by Mennta-og menningarmálaráðuneytið, Listahátíð í Reykjavík, Reykjavíkurborg, Helgi Eiríksson and Kolsstaðir.

“Inspiration on real artists like Pálína and her collaborating artists does not evoke imitation, but finds courage in its own search for possibilities and subject matters.”

— Þorgeir Tryggvason, Morgunblaðið