Between 24 and 26 April 2025, NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts will host the U.S. premiere of “The Employees”, directed by Łukasz Twarkowski. The play, based on the novel by Olga Ravn, explores the limits of humanity in the age of technology and emotions.
People and humanoid robots on a spaceship – a vision of the future on stage
“The Employees”, inspired by Olga Ravn’s novel, transports viewers to a cosmic world at the intersection of science fiction, dystopia, and today’s realities. Set in an unspecified near future, the story unfolds aboard spaceship number 6000, carrying both humans and humanoid robots after the destruction of Earth. Supervised by a mysterious organisation, the crew of the spaceship is tasked with exploring a distant planet called Nowoodkryta [Newly Discovered]. Among the passengers are humans and humanoid robots – although it remains unclear who is who. This dark satire follows the crew’s reflections on consciousness and identity, conveyed through fragmentary reports left by the ship’s crew members.
In this futuristic universe, the boundaries between the human and the machine blur, and artificial intelligence begins to display human emotions. Director Łukasz Twarkowski employs the technique of doubling roles – each character is portrayed both as a human and their robotic counterpart. The performance raises profound questions about identity and the limits of humanity, while also engaging the viewer on a physical level. The space surrounding the stage dissolves the boundary between the actor and the audience, while modern choreography and pulsating techno rhythms drive the narrative of endless labour. The audience becomes part of the story, interacting with the performance and co-creating this cosmic journey.
New York performances of “The Employees” directed by Łukasz Twarkowski
The New York performances of “The Employees” will be presented in Polish with English subtitles:
- on Thursday, 24 April 2025, at 7:30 pm;
- on Friday, 25 April 2025, at 7:30 pm;
- on Saturday, 26 April 2025, at 7:30 pm.
“The Employees” creators:
Author: Olga Ravn
Translation from Danish: Bogusława Sochańska
Director: Łukasz Twarkowski
Text adaptation and dramaturgy: Joanna Bednarczyk
Stage design: Fabien Lédé
Costumes: Svenja Gassen
Music: Lubomir Grzelak
Lights: Bartosz Nalazek
Movement consultant: Rob Wasiewicz
Video art: Jakub Lech
Creators of the images: Iwo Jabłoński, Gloria Grünig
Executive producer: Monika Balińska
Stage manager: Zuzanna Prusińska
Assistant director: Adam Zduńczyk
Assistant producer: Aleksandra Urban
Model and objects: Katarzyna Rytka
Lighting: Jan Zajączkowski
Sound production: Damian Kruszewski, Rafał Szydłowski
Video production: Adrien Cognac, Adam Kuznowicz
Scenic realisation: Piotr Szczygielski
Costume production: Aleksandra Andrychowicz
Cast: Dominika Biernat, Daniel Dobosz, Maja Pankiewicz, Sonia Roszczuk, Paweł Smagała, Rob Wasiewicz, Małgorzata Hajewska-Krzysztofik (Featured in the audio material), Miron Smagała (Featured in the video material)
Producer: Studio Teatrgaleria
International distribution: Anna Lewanowicz
Impresario: Agnieszka Błażejewska
Tickets are available online. The performances are supported by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. The project is implemented thanks to the support of the Polish Institute in New York. Co-financed from the funds of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.