Jan Karski Drama Program on Radio Szczecin
"During those seven hours, we describe how the Government-in-Exile functioned. We describe Jan Karski's road to Washington, chronologically covering the most important events in our hero's life", said Tomasz Chaciński, Radio Szczecin's chief director, in an interview with PAP. The program's premiere was held last Sunday evening at the Helkios Cinema in Szczecin.
"The serial tells of his arrest and of his time in a Soviet prisoner-of-war camp, of his escape from a train taking him to work in the Third Reich and of his first completed mission reaching the Government-in-Exile in France. Later episodes tell of his arrest by the Gestapo, his attempted suicide, his rescue from the hands of his captors, his "London period", ending with his visit to the White House."
The director and scriptwriter is Krzysztof Czeczot, with music composed by Adam Walicki. The title role is played by Jakub Gierszał, with Wojciech Malajkat as the narrator. Other roles are played by Julia Kamińska, Zbigniew Zamachowski and Jacek Braciak. The production also utilises fragments of Karski's book "The Secret State" („Tajne Państwo”).
Radio Szczecin intends set up a web page containing fragments of the program, accompanied by comic-style illustrations. It is also working on an urban game. According to Chaciński, "We want the program to be used in schools as a resource for history teachers".
"Karski” airs on Mondays at 9:00am and again at 2:00pm on Radio Szczecin.
Jan Karski was the legendary Polish Government-in-Exile courier. He twice carried out successful missions into occupied Poland, passing on documents and news. In 1942, he informed the governments of the Allies of the Jewish Holocaust in Poland. With immense determination, he endeavoured for this shocking story to reach the greatest number of politicians and the widest circles of public opinion. He is described as the "man who tried to stop the Holocaust”.
