The Little Match Girl

The story “The Little Match Girl,” presented in the form of a pantomime performance, offers an opportunity to breathe new life into this classic fairy tale. Thanks to the universal language of nonverbal communication, the performance becomes understandable to every viewer, regardless of language, culture, or age. Emotions, plot, and message are conveyed through thought, feeling, and action, creating a deeper bond with the audience and allowing for a more personal experience of the story.

The world created by the author reveals different realities, visible only to a few. One of the most famous fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen tells the story of a poor girl who, on New Year’s Eve, sells matches on the street. After many hours, she realizes with fear that she has not sold a single box, and without that, returning home is impossible. Cold and alone, she decides to light one of the matches to warm herself. Each lit match brings before her eyes warm and bright images: a dream family, a table set with delicious food, love. Yet every time the flame goes out, the beautiful visions disappear. Finally, the girl lights all the matches at once, longing to become part of the world she yearns for.

The absence of spoken narration opens up space for broad artistic expression for the actors, encouraging them to tell the story in a completely different, previously unseen way. As a result, audiences can experience the emotions of the main character more intensely, feeling her loneliness as well as moments of fleeting joy and hope. The symbolic depiction of fantastical elements, such as the visions evoked by the flame of the matches, gives the performance depth and beauty, making it visually and emotionally moving.

Pantomime allows for the creation of an exceptionally evocative world in which the boundaries between reality and imagination magically blur. The lack of spoken dialogue not only heightens dramatic tension but also encourages viewers to closely follow every movement and gesture, strengthening their engagement with the story being told. This emotionally charged and symbolic performance captures the spirit of Andersen’s fairy tale while enriching it with new artistic dimensions.

Bartłomiej Ostapczuk – director of the performance

The performance takes part in the 10th edition of the Competition for the Staging of Classical Works of Polish Literature “Living Classics.”

running time: approx. 55 minutes
premiere:

Photo: HaWa

Aneta Gieroń "Biznes i Styl", 29.11.2024
Henryk Mazurkiewicz, "Baśniowe milczenie", teatralny.pl, 5.02.2025