Elizabeth Costello is a heroine who is not just a fictional, literary entity. One could say that she became Coetzee’s artistic and life alter ego, speaking on his behalf, replacing him when he began to hide behind her back or use her as a shield, as if he wanted to throw on her the odium of criticism, discord and anger of the audience and participants academic discussions and disputes. As he himself claims, Costello not only invades his imagination and writing plans, he also speaks – his voice – on philosophical, ecological, social and existential issues, he speaks and appeals to consciences regarding the fate of animals, social inequalities and the exclusion of the elderly and crippled. She also invades his works in which the author did not plan to include her. It can therefore be considered a kind of ghost, a calling voice or a dybbuk or other wandering soul. Or simply for your favorite figure that maniacally returns to its creator.

The character of writer Elizabeth Costello first appeared in 1999, when John Maxwell Coetzee was invited to give two lectures at universities in the United States, the topic of which was the writer Elizabeth Costello, invited to give two lectures at universities in the United States. Since then, the author has written several more works in which this character emerged, and her biography gradually began to grow. In 2003, the writer devoted a separate  novel to it he titled Elizabeth Costello. Costello is also Krzysztof’s favorite and often unplanned character in the theater Warlikowski. She has appeared in five of his plays so far: in one under her own name, in others were voiced by other characters. But never before had a director devoted an entire play to her, although – as his previous achievements show – it demands his attention and probably haunts him as often as its original creator. In his latest performance, Warlikowski finally implements the plan he knows exists he didn’t know until now, but it seems very logical considering how many times he invited Elizabeth to appear in the world of his theater.

The event partner is Grupa MTP.