Basking in History

The trip on a whole has obviously been an amazing experience, but I'm going to go ahead and say that the best part has been getting to learn from and bask in the presence of the teachers.

Perhaps, especially Andrzej and Teresa, two pioneers in the world of avant-garde theatre. I'll try to explain their awesome-ness:

They are founding members of the legendary Polish theatre troupe, Cricot2. Photos of their performances (from the 70s, 80s) are difficult to find, and although these aren't great quality, you can see Teresa here as "The Cabaret Whore," her famous recurring character.

Here Teresa dances with Death...played by her husband, Andrzej!

25 years later, she still glows.

Teresa does not speak much English, so I tried to endear myself to her early on with my Polish skills: 'I love you. Kiss me. I hate you. You're wonderful." (Thank you, ex-boyfriend.) It worked! She now calls me her "słoneczko" which means Sunshine.

Fun fact: They met on the street before one of Andrzej's performances, he invited her to watch and they were married just three months later. Their story is so utterly romantic and to see them still, so many years later, still making theatre and traveling together, still enjoying each other and their work so much...it is beautiful.

And, finally, as if he needed any more badass-ery, Andrzej was in the movie Schindler's List. He played 'Dr. Blancke,' a Nazi doctor who made the terrible selections and in one scene actually 'selects' his very own son and daughter, who were playing Jewish children. Wow.

I can hardly believe these history-makers, perhaps the last 2 (lucid) members of one of the most influential theatre groups of the 20th century, know my name and give me hugs and I rode with them in their car and talked to them about their dog! Pinch me.

Update: 1 September
I have since acquired this lovely photo of them both that I thought I would add: