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Krakow to host world premiere of John Paul II musical

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 17.03.2014 09:50
An Italian musical about Pope John Paul II will have its world premiere in Krakow on 2 April, marking the ninth anniversary of the Polish pontiff's death.

Pope
Pope John Paul II. Photo: wikipedia

Karol Wojtyla: The True Story begins with a depiction of the assassination attempt on the pope on St. Peter's Square on 13 May 1981.

However, the two-hour production will mainly deal with the future pontiff's rise to prominence in his native Poland.

“This is the story of the young Karol, his feelings, the war, his mother Emilia, his soldier father and his brother Edmund who he had to part with when he became a doctor,” revealed director Duccio Forzano.

“It's about everything that shaped Wojtyla up until the point when he realised the path he wanted to take.”

The score has been written by Noa, an Israeli pop star who knew the late pontiff. Noa sang a rendition of Ave Maria for the pope in 1994.

The pope will be played by three Italian actors, each representing a different phase in the pontiff's life.

3D technology will create a hologram of the pontiff on-stage, and archival footage will also be woven into the production.

Karol Wojtyla: The True Story will be staged at Krakow's Juliusz Slowacki Theatre, before moving to Warsaw for two performances on 8 April and 9 April.

Wojtyla spent the war in Krakow and later became archbishop of the southern Polish city, before being elected to the papacy in October 1978.

Pope John Paul II died on 2 April 2005, and he is due to be canonised at the Vatican on 27 April, marking the final stage in his path to sainthood. (nh)

Source: PAP

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