Review: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at The Kujawsko-Pomorski Music Theatre, Torun

As I sit on the train back from Toruń, I'm still under the charm of a production that makes you not only listen to its music but crave for more.

I want more!

More innovative musical shows,

more inspired directing,

more unforgettable performers,

more reasons to dance in the theatre,

and more surprises, interactions, and coherent visions—because as they proved, it’s absolutely possible!

Let me start from the top. You enter the club, leave your coat, and receive a headset with three simple buttons—on/off, channel, and volume. Excitement builds as you descend the stairs into the play’s venue. Though there are seating options, a huge crowd already stands, each person donning a headset of a different color that signals the channel they're tuned into—be it music or a podcast about slow life. As the audience gathers literally around the stage, some curious souls without their lights on sneak a peek at the action. Actors, already fully immersed in their roles, dance among us, handing out candies (let’s stick to the idea it’s candy) and creating an electric buzz. A safety announcement later, the show is off!

A dazzling series of musical numbers fills our ears. Each person is in their own world, controlling their own volume and space, yet energy—like dust dancing in sunlight—swirls around us in surprising constellations. Actors are everywhere: hanging out, climbing, leaping on and off—the unpredictability of their appearances (I had Jesus singing just 20 inches from my face, and it was electrifying!) takes the audience experience to another level. If you stay close enough, you might even be invited on stage to witness the dramatic reenactment of Jesus' death. There are no boundaries between us and them—we are the theatre, and I absolutely loved it.

The formula is unusual and takes a bit to adjust, but soon you realize you can tailor the experience to your own taste. Control the volume, wander around, change your spot, dance freely, bump into Judas one moment or receive a spontaneous flower the next. You can roam, you can groove, or you can chill—there are even some seats if your feet say "nope." And if the music in your ears gets a bit much, just pop off the headset and soak in the raw, live vocals. Heads up though: actors are everywhere, and I mean everywhere—you’ll see them from the front, the back, from above and below (yes, I checked, their shoes are spotless—Cinderella would be proud).

The cast, oh my, the cast is amazing!

Jesus (Krzysztof Wojciechowski) works miracles—transforming from a joyful peacemaker to a furious avenger, and even a vulnerable victim—with marvelous finesse. Judas (Marcin Wortmann) delivers an explosive, unpredictable energy. Mary Magdalene (Oliwia Drożdżyk) is a true diamond—so moving and devoted that if passion were a currency, she’d be a millionaire; when Jesus dies, even her eyelid trembles to the rhythm of the music. Pontius Pilate (Jan Popis) exudes power with a sparkling coat and a voice as mighty as an electrical plant. Brilliant King Herod (Marta Burdynowicz) adds a ruthless edge; Peter (Wojciech Daniel) brings heart and Simon (Dominik Fijałkowski) ignites the stage with fire—a true powerhouse duo. The trio—Caiaphas (Jędrzej Czerwonogrodzki), Annas (Jeremiasz Gzyl), and Priest (Julia Kafar)—might have been clad in white, but if shady harmonies were an Olympic sport, they’d be gold medalists. And trust me, you’ll wish Caiaphas’ voice could haunt your dreams. Last but not least, the ensemble of Stefan Andruszko, Nikodem Bogdański, Katarzyna Domalewska, Gabriel Dubiel, Patrycja Brzezińska, Karol Ledwosiński, Ewa Mociak, Patryk Rybarski, Ringo Todorovic, and Agata Walczak made this show exceptionally vibrant with their omnipresent energy.

The creative team deserves a standing ovation as well. Great costumes by Wanda Kowalska, mesmerizing scenography by Wojciech Stefaniak, captivating choreography by Michał Cyran, and visionary directing by Agnieszka Płoszajska all fit together like the pieces of an intricate puzzle. They crafted an innovative show that proves a masterpiece can be deconstructed and reassembled in entirely new ways. We thought we had seen it all about Jesus Christ Superstar, but this was something else.

I truly loved it and I could write for pages about how great this show was but you have to go and see it for yourself. Don’t forget your dancing shoes!

Photo: The Kujawsko-Pomorski Music Theatre, Torun

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