“Evelyn. Barefoot” – A performance inspired by the life and story of the Dame Evelyn Glennie

Written by Alina Moś, director of “Evelyn. Barefoot”

My friend, playwright Sandra Szwarc, told me about her play “Evelyn. Barefoot” around ten years ago. I had no idea who Evelyn Glennie was, but Sandra introduced me to the story of a girl whose incredible passion for music led her through life in a very special way. It wasn’t a biographical play. It was a very universal story proving that nothing is impossible, even if someone cannot hear or see in the traditional way. And I decided that, as a theatre director, I had to create a performance based on this script. I knew that one day I would simply feel that this was the right moment and that these were the right people to work with as my artistic heart has always guided me in such matters.

“This is a story about the power of dreams, determination, and redefining the concept of listening in a world where sound is experienced through vibration, movement, and the body, and silence is never absolute.”

And here we are! Rehearsals are underway in Czeladź, Poland. “Evelyn. Barefoot” is the Damier Theatre’s latest production, inspired by the story of the outstanding percussionist Evelyn Glennie, who, despite hearing loss, created her own unique way of experiencing music. On June 8, 2026, Sandra Szwarc’s play “Evelyn. Barefoot” will premiere at the Culture Mine in Czeladź. Directed by myself, the play features actors associated with Silesian theatres, and percussionist Krzysztof Nowakowski provides live music.

This is a story about the power of dreams, determination, and redefining the concept of listening in a world where sound is experienced through vibration, movement, and the body, and silence is never absolute. The performance is performed in Polish and Polish Sign Language, making it accessible to deaf people and offering hearing audiences a new, intense experience of theater and music. However, what is exceptional here, beyond the artistic and social aspects, is the genuine support of Evelyn Glennie herself, who expresses her absolute appreciation for the performance, which means everything for us.

Our goal is to involve deaf people in listening to this story together. And of course, it will succeed! What is more this is amazing journey for us as a crew: we learn sign language, participate in drum workshops, meet deaf people, passionately listen to Dame Evelyn’s music, and through all this we significantly expand our artistic horizons.

Evelyn Glennie has created her own, deeply embodied way of experiencing music. The play by renowned playwright Sandra Szwarc takes the audience on Evelyn’s journey from childhood to her first concert, revealing a world where sound is experienced through vibration, movement, and the presence of the body. Researcher Geza Révész conducted experimental research in search of a rational explanation for the puzzling issue of music perception by the deaf. He pointed to the co-resonance of the human body during sound stimulation, which suggests that the deaf body is capable of acoustic-vibrational conduction. Bone hearing is a component of sound conduction and combined with the increased sensitivity of the deaf to the vibroacoustic sphere of a piece, it may provide a key explanation for the phenomenon of experiencing music beyond hearing.

I feel very honoured and proud to have the opportunity to direct such an important performance. Live music, multi-sensory narrative and a powerful visual stage language create a story about determination, the power of imagination, and the fact that listening can have many dimensions: accessible to everyone, regardless of how they perceive the world.

Alina Moś
Director of “Evelyn. Barefoot”

“Evelyn. Barefoot” premieres on 8th June 2026 at the Culture Mine in Czeladź, Poland

Students from the School and Preschool Complex for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Katowice are participating in the project.

The performance is performed bilingually – in both Polish and Polish Sign Language (PJM).

Co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Cultural Promotion Fund