The rhinoceros dreams of flying. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know how to do it, so he is very sad. He is helped by Sparrow, who, as a specialist in aerial acrobatics, becomes the sad hero’s teacher. Though the Sparrow’s advice is good-natured does not have the intended effect After many failed attempts, Rhino makes a discovery that brings joy to his heart. The Rhinoceros play is based on a short-story by the great philosopher Leszek Kołakowski, which he wrote for his daughter. The author has not only included his philosophical views and his well-known sense of humour in a simple and amiable story but – most importantly – he has succeeded in conveying a child’s sensibility.

The play is dedicated mostly to our youngest spectators. A simple and wise story, friendly and expressive characters, big objects on the stage and mellow sounds of jazz in the background create a fairy tale-like world which makes children feels safe. It is a play within a play, which respects the theatrical suspension of disbelief. The actors wear multi-coloured costumes and resemble mimes or clowns. They impersonate different characters: a crazy family, fishermen, a crowd at a political rally, or mannequins. At the same time, they allow the audience to freely interpret and discover who is whom.

The scenography is created with everyday objects that belong to the world of adults. Because of their size, which has been significantly increased, they evoke connotations with fairy tales or children’s toys. They also stimulate the main character’s imagination, while the other characters in the play do their best to spot the Unlucky Rhinoceros in these objects. And so, the big teapot becomes our Rhino, a teaspoon becomes a paddle, and a matchbox becomes a bed. The creators of the play were inspired by the artistic manifesto of a Belgian surrealistic painter, René Magritte, according to which what we can see in a painting or on stage is not what we think it is.