By Slawomir Mrozek
Directed by Ira Süssenbach
With Mariana Novak, Petra Staduan, Ira Süssenbach
A workshop production of the classic absurdist Polish play by Slawomir Mrozek about three shipwrecked men on a raft. In Russian-Austrian director Ira Süssenbach’s interpretation, the raft as an analogy for our society, which has suffered a kind of “shipwreck”: the familiar concepts no longer work in the face of major crises such as climate change, right-wing extremism, wars, natural disasters, and mass migration.
Presented in English.
Sławomir Mrożek (1930–2013) was a preeminent Polish playwright, satirist, and cartoonist who emerged as a leading voice in the Theater of the Absurd, celebrated for his sharp critiques of authoritarianism, conformity, and social bureaucracy. He initially found success as a journalist and visual artist before debuting his first play, The Police, in 1958, ultimately achieving widespread international fame with his masterpiece Tango in 1964. Mrożek mastered the art of using surrealism and dark humor to bypass political censorship, a technique brilliantly showcased in his 1961 one-act play Out at Sea (Na pełnym morzu). Mrożek left Poland to live in Italy in 1963, and in 1968 he wrote a public letter denouncing Poland's involvement in the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. In response, the Polish government revoked his passport and banned his work. He returned to Poland later in life, leaving behind a profound theatrical legacy that continuously unmasked the absurdity and fragile structures of civilized human behavior.
Ira Süssenbach grew up in Russia but left the country in 2012 due to the political situation and moved to Austria. She initially studied economics in Moscow and Vienna, before working as a risk manager in banking. In 2023, she graduated with distinction from the Max Reinhardt Seminar, where she studied drama directing. In 2024, she staged Sławomir Mrożek’s Slaughterhouse – We Only Eat Cauliflower at the Wortwiege Festival and Christine Nöstlinger’s "Konrad or The Child from the Tin Can" at Schauspielhaus Salzburg. Her last production The Execution by Qualtinger/Merz premiered on February, 25 in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. In 2024 together with other theatre makers they founded an art group “Karfiolkollektiv".
Petra Staduan is an Austrian theater and film actress. She received her acting training at the renowned Max Reinhardt Seminar in Vienna. Numerous multilingual engagements have taken her to venues including the Theater Dortmund, Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg, Theater Erlangen and Grange de Dorigny in Lausanne. She has worked for many years with the Wortwiege Ensemble. Most recently, she was also a member of the ensemble at the Schauspielhaus Salzburg. She has appeared in various film and TV productions. For her performance in the film Vienna Waits for You, she was awarded Best Actress at the Shanghai International Film Festival. She also teaches voice and diction as a lecturer at universities and works as a voice actress for the austrian broadcasting. She is a member and co-founder of the Karfiolkollektiv.
Mariana Novak is an American film and TV actor, voice talent, and content producer based between NYC and Miami. Known for roles in projects like Mayfair Witches, Stranger Things, Ozark, and Law & Order. Mariana has also dedicated her career to producing content across various sectors and demystifying the entertainment industry through social media and mentorship. Born in Eastern Europe and raised in California, she brings a unique multicultural perspective to her characters.
ABOUT THE 2026 REHEARSAL FOR TRUTH INTERNATIONAL THEATER FESTIVAL
Rehearsal for Truth International Theater Festival, honoring Václav Havel, is a showcase of contemporary European theater organized each year in New York City. Conceived in 2017 as a shared endeavor of the Václav Havel Center (VHC) and Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association (BBLA), the festival honors the legacy of Czech playwright, dissident and political thinker Vaclav Havel. The 2026 festival is being produced in partnership with Untitled Theater Company No. 61.
Each edition of Rehearsal for Truth Theater Festival addresses current sociopolitical trends in Central and Eastern Europe, offering New York audiences a unique opportunity to witness the region’s theatrical zeitgeist.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.