The monograph presents theatre and theatre artists faced with the extreme challenges brought about by the war against the Soviet and Russian occupiers. Despite the passing years and changing circumstances, the occupiers sought to use all available means, including the institution of theatre, as a tool for cultural unification, serving as a model for integrating the occupied community into their own oppressive system. Artists were expected to try, through their artistic creations, to maintain the distinctiveness of their own culture, to uphold values important to the community and its specific means of symbolic self-representation. The resulting conflict of interests was evident during World War II on the stages of Lviv, Vilnius and Białystok. We can certainly see the enormous determination of artists in the struggle for cultural autonomy and independence in Ukraine, when, after 2014, and especially in 2022, Russia decided to invade the country.
Professor Piotr Horbatowski'sscholarly work focuses on the study of the history of the theatrical activity of Poles abroad, with particular emphasis on the East and Far East. He is the author of monographs devoted to Polish theatrical life in Ukraine. In the field of glottodidactics, he is interested in innovative, unconventional teaching methods. He is the author of the method of teaching Polish language through theater, as well as the use of student newspaper editorials to teach Polish language and culture. He has worked abroad as a Visiting Professor at: University of Connecticut, Central Connecticut State University, Indiana University (USA), Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (Japan), Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (South Korea), Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (China). From 2005 to 2009 and 2011 to 2012, he served as director of the School of Polish Language and Culture at the Jagiellonian University. From 2012 to 2016, he was director of the Center for Polish Language and Culture in the World at the Jagiellonian University. Since 2021, he has been the director of the Institute of Polish Studies Glottodidactics at UJ.