Theater Babel Rotterdam welcomes Teatr21 with the production ‘Libido romantico’, directed by Justyna Wielgus.
‘Libido romantico’ is Polish spoken with Dutch surtitling.
About the perfomance
200 years ago, the premiere of ‘Ballads and Romances’ was accompanied by moral scandal and social unrest. Mickiewicz was accused of immorality and perversion. He spoke the language of a group of the lowest social status, giving them the right to embody their fantasies and desires. Overflowing with eroticism, sensuality and amorous frenzy, the texts also fulfilled an emancipatory role, becoming a manifesto of a new sensibility, abolishing class hierarchies and postulating a democracy of feelings. With his Ballads, he introduced new, socially unacceptable images that struck hard at bourgeois prudery. Can his texts today evoke similar anxiety? In ‘Libido romantico’, actors, actresses, and creators challenge contemporary society. Reaching for the classic and (seemingly) tamed, national, hallowed texts of the national bard, they find their voice in them, claiming the right of people with disabilities to love and to sexuality.
“‘Libido romantico’ is not only an expression of disagreement with the situation in our country, but also an unforgettable journey through the realm of erotic-romantic love.” – Magdalena Hasiuk, ‘Didaskalia’
“Libido romantico’ is one of the most important performances I have seen in Polish theaters.” – Szymon Golec, ‘Nowa Siła Krytyczna’
The performance of ‘Libido romantico’ at Theater Babel is co-organized by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute as part of the international cultural program of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2025.
Ticket price
There are several different tickets available for ‘Libido romantico’. For visitors with a limited budget, we offer ‘Warm Welcome’ tickets for €7.50. Regular tickets cost €17.50. Can you spare a bit more and would you like to support Theater Babel? Then buy an ‘Extra Love’ ticket for €25.
Crossing the Line
Theater Babel Rotterdam and Teatr21 met first in 2019 as part of Crossing the Line, a collaboration between six theatre companies in Europe who are all leaders in the field of working with actors with disabilities. Crossing the Line brought these companies together in a 3 year collaboration project, in which international inclusive art and artists with disabilities are celebrated. Players from different countries were able to get to know each other and learn from each other. The aim of the project was to reinforce the inclusive arts and mutual international cooperation.
Crossing the line was made possible by financial contribution from the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
