On 21 March, Genoa hosted the world premiere of the play ,,Papaveri rossi” (“Red Poppies”), which tells the extraordinary story of the soldiers of the Polish Second Corps. Produced by the Teatro Pubblico Ligure, the play will be seen by audiences in Milan on 27 March. The event is co-organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. 

Dedicated to the fate of the soldiers of General Władysław Anders, the play was directed by Sergio Maifredi, founder of the Teatro Pubblico Ligure. Massimiliano Cividati performed on stage, accompanied by music composed and performed live by Gennaro Scarpato (percussion) and Andrea Zani (piano). Professor Krystyna Jaworska was responsible for the historical consultation of the production. 

The premiere of the play took place at the Municipal Theatre of Sori (Genoa) as part of the Soriteatro 23/24 festival. Then, on 27 March 2024, the play will play at the Teatro Litta in Milan, and on 11 November, on Polish Independence Day, ‘Papaveri Rossi’ will be staged at Rome’s Teatro Vittoria.

The performance will remind Italian audiences of the page written 80 years ago by General Anders’ soldiers in the history of the Apennine Peninsula and beyond. 

The Polish II Corps, fighting alongside the Allies on the southern front of the Second World War, remains a unique formation for those times. Since its formation in 1943, the Polish soldiers, with the whole families, including children and the elderly – crossed many countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. 

There were prominent cultural authors among them, such as Józef Czapski, Gustaw Herling-Grudziński and Jerzy Giedroyc. While still in Baghdad, the Corps staged its first play, publicised throughout the city with posters in Polish, English and Arabic. Since then, the Dramatic Theatre of the Second Corps performed many times, between clashes preparing adaptations from Shakespeare to Gozzi and Goldoni. 

Adrian Andrzejewski