Erwin Axer facts for kids
Erwin Axer was a very important Polish theatre director, writer, and university professor. He was born on January 1, 1917, and passed away on August 5, 2012. For many years, he was the head of the Teatr Współczesny (Contemporary Theatre) in Warsaw. He also directed many plays in other countries, especially in places like Germany, Switzerland, the US, and Leningrad (which is now called St. Petersburg in Russia). He received the Witkacy Prize – Critics' Circle Award in 1993 for his amazing work in theatre.
Contents
Early Life and Theatre Dreams
Erwin Axer was born in Vienna, Austria, but he spent most of his younger years in Lwów (which is now Lviv, Ukraine). He came from a well-off family; his father, Maurycy Axer, was a famous lawyer. Young Erwin decided he wanted to dedicate his life to the theatre.
First Plays He Directed
In the late 1930s, Erwin Axer directed his very first play, which was Moon of the Caribbes by Eugene O'Neill. In 1938, he also directed Nędza uszczęśliwiona by Maciej Kamieński and The Tidings Brought to Mary by Paul Claudel. The next year, 1939, he finished his studies at the State Institute of Theatrical Art. Right after graduating, he directed Miss Julie by August Strindberg.
Facing Challenges During Wartime
Sadly, the Invasion of Poland and the start of World War II put a stop to his early career. He spent the first few years of the Soviet occupation in Lwów. During this time, he earned a living by acting and directing plays at the Polish Dramatic Theatre. This was the only Polish-language theatre allowed to stay open in the city.
However, when Germany took control of Lwów and his father was arrested, Axer moved to Warsaw. He bravely took part in the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. After the uprising, he was captured by the Germans and sent to Germany. There, he was forced to work in a quarry.
Leading Theatres After the War
After World War II ended, Erwin Axer returned to Poland. In 1946, he became the head of the Chamber Theatre of the Soldiers' House in Łódź. This theatre later moved to Warsaw the next year and was renamed the Teatr Współczesny. Axer led this theatre for almost 40 years! He finally retired in 1981, after Martial Law in Poland was put in place.
Directing at the National Theatre
Between 1954 and 1957, he also led the National Theatre. This was considered the most important theatre in Poland after the war. Since 1949, he was also a professor at the Theatrical Academy in Warsaw, teaching new generations of theatre artists.
International Success
After 1962, Erwin Axer regularly directed plays in other countries. He visited places like Germany, Switzerland, the Soviet Union, the USA, and the Netherlands. A famous Russian director named Georgy Tovstonogov invited him to direct three shows at the Bolshoy Drama Theatre in Leningrad. The first of these, "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" by Bertolt Brecht in 1963, was considered one of the best shows of that decade. It had a big impact on many young Russian directors. From 1972 onwards, he also worked with the famous Viennese Burgtheater.
