The end of communism in 1989 was a major turning point in modern Polish history, and it has now become an inspiration for a musical play entitled 1989, which is set to premiere in the country in mid-November.
Amid the turbulent transition at the time, many notable Polish political figures rose to prominence. Among them was the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Lech Wałęsa, and other key opposition leaders, such as Jacek Kuroń and Władysław Frasyniuk, who alongside Wałęsa are the central characters of the new play.
The production was inspired by Hamilton, a sung-and-rapped-through musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda that tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the United States.
Radio Poland's Piotr Miszczuk spoke with Prof. Marcin Napiórkowski, a sociologist and semiotician who served as a lyricist and playwright for the new Polish musical.
1989 will be staged in the northern Polish port city of Gdańsk and the southern city of Kraków. It is scheduled to premiere on November 19 in Gdańsk.
Click on the audio player above to hear the interview.