Stories told in a portrait – Jan Nowicki
On April 27, 2017, as part of the photo series “Stories told in a portrait,” we realized in Krakow a portrait session of the theater and film actor Jan Nowicki.
The session accompanied the meeting of Piotr Skrzynecki’s memoirs on the 20th anniversary of his death. During a meeting at his monument in front of the entrance to the Vis-à-Vis cafe on the Main Square (founded by Zbigniew Preisner), Friends from “Piwnica pod Baranami” performed the song “Lilies of the valley, lilacs or pet” written by Jan Nowicki shortly after his departure (in original song performed: Jan Kanty Pawluśkiewicz – music, vocal; Jan Nowicki – words, vocal; Grzegorz Turnau – vocal; Elżbieta Towarnicka – soprano).
The session took place near Vis-à-Vis in a mobile photo studio at Cafe Europejska Restaurant in Krakow.
Organization of the session: Monika Muracka.
We especially thank the manager Elżbieta Towarnicka Wiktor Czajkowski for the support in taking photos.
Biography
Jan Nowicki (born in 1939 in Kowal) – a film, theater and television actor, lecturer at the Polish Theater School in Krakow, in which in 1973-74 he was deputy dean of the Acting Department. After graduating from the PWST in Krakow (in 1964), he made his debut in 1965 in J. Anouilh’s “Invitation to the Castle” at the Krakow Old Theater, whose actor he is to this day.
Being from the beginning of his career associated with the Old Theater, he played the role of in the roles of: Piotr in “Wariatka z Chaillot” by Jean Giraudoux, dir. Zygmunt Hübner; Rogozyn in the play Nastasya Filipovna based on Dostoyevsky’s Idiot, dir. Andrzej Wajda, 1977; Artur in “Tango” by Sławomir Mrożek, dir. Jerzy Jarocki, 1965; Brindsley in Peter Shaffer’s “Black Comedy” dir. Zygmunt Hübner, 1968; Lucucius in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, dir. Hübner, 1969; Jacek in “Everything in the Garden” by Edward Albee, dir. Jerzy Jarocki, 1970; Faust in “The Tragic History of Doctor Faustus” by Christopher Marlowe, dir. Bohdan Korzeniewski, 1971; Mikołaj Stawrogin in “Biesach” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, dir. Andrzej Wajda, 1971; Józef K. in “The Trial” after Franz Kafka, dir. Jerzy Jarocki, 1973; Grand Duke in “November Night” by Stanisław Wyspiański, dir. Andrzej Wajda, 1974; Stranger in “The Road to Damascus” by August Strindberg, dir. Krzysztof Babicki, 1991; Tefuan Saraskier-Bangui in “So-called humanity in madness” after Witkacy, dir. Jerzy Grzegorzewski, 1992; Sieriebriakowa in Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya Rudolf Zioło, 1993
Over the years he has also made guest appearances at the Bagatela Theater in Krakow, the Rampa Theater in Warsaw, and the Mazowiecki Musical Theater Operetta in Warsaw.
In 1970, he made his role in the “Player” of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, directed by Bogdan Hussakowski, made his debut at the Television Theater. To this day, he has played several dozen roles there (he appeared in the performances of “Eryk XIV August Strindberg” directed by Jerzy Gruza, 1979; “Z życia Glist” Per Olova Enquist directed by Krzysztof Babicki, 1988; “Płatonów Antoni Chekhov directed by Andrzej Domalik, 1992; Duni based on Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment directed by Leszek Wosiewicz, 1993; Stawrogin’s Case based on Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Bies, directed by Krzysztof Zaleski, 1995 “Count” of Maryna Miklaszewska directed by Filip Bajon, 1998; “Chief” of Stig Larsson directed by Anna Augustynowicz, 1999; “Birth of the Master” Zbigniew’s book staged by Magda Meszaros, 2000).
He has appeared in films by Andrzej Wajda (including the character of Captain Wyganowski in “Ashes”, 1965), Alexander Ford (including “The First Day of Freedom”, 1964), Jerzy Skolimowski (including “Barrier” “, 1966;” 11 minutes “, 2015), Krzysztof Zanussi (among others,” Family life “, 1970,;” Spiral “, 1978;” Rewizyt “, 2009), Jerzy Hoffman (among others, “Mr. Wołodyjowski”, 1968), Jan Jakub Kolski (“History of cinema in Popielawy”, 1998), Marta Meszaros (“One two”, 1977; “Like at home “, 1978;” On the Road “, 1979;” Unbidden “, 2004), Filip Bajon (” Magnat “, 1986;” Early Spring “, 2000;” Foundation “, 2006 ), Tadeusz Konwicki (“Lawa. A Tale of” Dziady “by Adam Mickiewicz, 1989), Franciszek Dzida (” Twilight Zone “, 2003), Jacek Borcuch (” Tulips “, 2004), Adrian Panek (” Daas “, 2011).
His most remembered roles, however, are Józef from Wojciech Has’ Sanatorium under the hourglass (1973) and the title role of Sylwester Chęciński’s Wielki Szu (1983). He also starred in the box office “Young Wolves” by Jarosław Żamojda (1995).
He appeared on several screens in several series, including in “Appetite for love” dir. Anna Kazejak (2008), “Life Exam” created by Teresa Kotlarczyk (2005-2008), “Magda M.” in dir. Jacek Borcuch, Maciej Dejczer and Krzysztof Lang (2005-2007), “Removals” by Leszek Wosiewicz (2000).
In 2006 he directed the musical-poetic performance “From clouds to earth” based on poems by Jan Twardowski, Bolesław Leśmian and Jan Nowicki. Jazzmen Marek Stryszowski and Cezary Chmiel took part in creating the performance.
In 2000 he published the book “Between heaven and earth” – a collection of essays-letters published in the years 1998–2000 in “Przekrój”. The addressee of the letters was the creator of Krakow’s “Piwnica pod Baranami” Piotr Skrzynecki.
He is the author of several books, including “Between Heaven and Earth”, “Man and They”, “White Waltzes”, “Two Gentlemen”, poems, lyrics and carols.
Winner of many awards, including the Award of the City of Krakow for outstanding acting achievements or the 2nd Degree State Award. Decorated, among others The Commander’s Cross with the Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2001), the Golden Cross of Merit (1977) and the Gold Medal for Merit to Culture Gloria Artis (2005).
Biography edited on the basis of data from the websites: ninateka.pl, culture.pl, filmpolski.pl, e-teatr.pl.
By sending a link to the official music video of the song “Lilies of the valley, lilac or pet” (CLICK),, I invite you to view portraits of other Artists taken that day in Krakow click at links below: