Marcin Herich was born in 1969.07.24 in Katowice (Poland). The graduate of Polish philology of Silesian University in Katowice (1993, dissertation: “Transcendences of words at Polish contemporary theatre”). Founder and artistic director of Teatr A Part.
Artistic Activity
Since 1985 till the end of 2003 he was connected with experimental theatre company Teatr Cogitatur as actor, the director and collaborator in range the staging and technique of scene. He played in performances by Teatr Cogitatur, directed by Witold Izdebski, entitled: “Totentanz in Polen” (1996), “The Castles of Transylvania” (1997), “Mein Herz ist schwer” (1990), “Cabaret Neopathetique” (1993), “Il fondo d’oro” (1994), “Journey of Magi” (in co-operation with Teatr Biuro Podróży) as well as in many occasional theatre small projects. He co-operated during creation of stage performance “Four Dreams of Hölderlin” (1996) and other creations by Teatr Cogitatur.
In 1996 he directed with team of Teatr Cogitatur outdoor spectacle “The Passion”, based on own script. As the script writer and the director he realized with team of Teatr Cogitatur outdoor performances “Femina” (first night performance: 1998) and “El Niño. Love in the Time of Anxiety” (first night performance: 2003).
In 2004 he founded a new visual and physical theatre company named Teatr A Part.
Author of series of outdoor projects entitled “Extracts” (“Extracts” – 2003, Athens in Greece, “Extracts 2” – 2003, Goeteborg in Sweden, “Extracts 3” – 2005, Zadar and Zagreb in Croatia, Budapest in Hungary and Warsaw in Poland).
In 2006 he realized two spectacles: outdoor large scale “Tsunami” (in co-operation with Music Theatre in Gliwice and Puppet Theatre Banialuka in Bielsko-Biała) and non-verbal stage seance “Basic Needs”.
In 2007 he realized and directed solo project by Monika Wachowicz entitled “Hourglass”, presented many times in many countries.
Co-director of special version of site specific project “Venus Labyrinth” by Cantabile 2 from Denmark, prepared in co-operation with Theaterlabor Bielefeld and Teatr A Part, presented during Internationales Theaterfestival 360° in Bielefeld in Germany (2008).
In 2009 he realized and directed two spectacles: “Lullaby” (solo project by Maria Katarzyna Gliwa) and “Faust” (outdoor performance).
In 2010 he realized and directed solo by Monika Wachowicz entitled “Sketches about Ophelia”.
In 2011 he created new project: stage/site specific project based on motive of circus entitled “Cyrk Bellmer” (“Bellmer Circus”).
In 2012 he realized and directed large scale site-specific project “Gomo Land”.
In 2013 he realized and directed new solo by Monika Wachowicz entitled “Transparency of Emptiness “.
In 2014 he realized and directed video instalation/solo performance entitled “Precipice of Depth” and stage performance/Dadaist cabaret “Künstlerspiele. Scenes from the Great War”.
In 2015 he realized and co-directed stage spectacle “In the Jungle of History. Variete” (in co-operation with Theaterlabor im Tor 6 in Bielefeld in Germany).
In 2016 he realized and directed solo by Marlena Niestrój entitled “Bonds”.
In 2017 he realized and directed site-specific project for one spectator entitled “Alice in Wonderland” and stage spectacle “Nothing. Sketches for King Lear”.
In 2018 he realized and directed stage dance theatre spectacle “Four” (in co-operation with Teatr Amareya from Gdańsk).
In 2019 he realized and directed four performance: solo “Rite of Spring” by Marlena Niestrój; site-specific project for one spectator “Dante Project”; outdoor performance “Lear, Fuck!”; international performance “Last Days of Mankind” (co-direction, in co-operation with Theaterlabor im Tor 6 in Bielefeld in Germany and Leith Theatre in Edinburgh in Scottland, futuring The Tiger Lillies).
In 2021 he realized and directed physical and visual piece entitled “Four More”.
In 2023 he realized ad directed physical and visual piece entitled “Three Four” and site-specific project for one spectator “Ariadne’s Dream”.
In 2024 he realized and directed stage performance/old fashion cabaret “I Died of Happiness”, based on legend and biography of Anita Berber.
In 2025 he realized and directed solo by Alina Bachara entitled “The Oort Cloud”, street happening “Behind Enemy Lines” and stage performance “Panic duet”.
Marcin Herich’s authorial performances, realized in Teatr Cogitatur and Teatr A Part, have been presented in many festivals and artistic events in 32 countries on 5 continents (Belarus, Brazil, Croatia, Montenegro, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, France, Greece, Spain, Netherlands, Iran, Ireland, Israel, South Korea, Lithuania, Mexico, Germany, Poland, Russia, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, USA, Hungary, United Kingdom and Italy).
He is also co-author of the performance ‘When no one hears anymore, when no one looks anymore’ (with Marlena Niestrój), produced by the Paris Foundation in 2024.
Other Professional Activity
The author of numerous publications about theatre (the drafts, the reports and reviews). He published in many Polish cultural magazines: “FA-art”, “Opcje”, “Nowy Nurt”, “Odra”, “Scena” and others. As scholarship holder of Soros Foundation in Warsaw he participated in 1996 in international seminar “Conceptual writings” in Lublana in Slovenia. The participant of international theatre conference “Paradise Lost?” in Rotterdam in Holland (2002) and street theatre and circus tour project CasCas in Gent in Belgium (2011).
Between 1996 and 2004 tour manager of Teatr Cogitatur.
The organizer and producer of numerous guest performances in Katowice. The originator and co-ordinator of series of presentations of the best European innovative performing arts productions (Teatr Cogitatur, 1997-1999). Co-founder and artistic director of International Performing Arts Festival A Part (1994-2022).
The participant of many events and conferences in Europe. In 1997 as scholarship holder of Soros Foundation in Warsaw he participated in seminar “The Philosophy and Practice of Performing Arts Festivals” in Edinburgh in Scotland during Edinburgh Festival. In 1998 he participated in second edition of this event, which took place in Sibiu in Romania, meanwhile in 1999 in third edition during Autumn Budapest Festival in Hungary. The participant of conferences IETM Informal European Theatre Meeting (Helsinki – Finland 1999, Prague – Czech Republic 2000, Lille – France 2001). The guest of Manchester Street Ahead Festival in England (1998), Avignon Festival in France (2000), International Theatre Festival “Golden Lion” in Lviv in Ukraine (2000), Objectif Danse in Brussel in Belgium (2007, 2009, 2019, 2021), Kiosk in Zylina in Slovakia (2008, 2012), Mala Inventura in Prague in Czech Republic (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) as well as Dublin Fringe Festival in Ireland (2008), Fira Tarrega in Spain (2012, 2021), Huashan Living Arts Festival in Taipei in Taiwan (2013), Crossroads Festival in Antwerpen in Belgium (2013), Temporada Alta in Spain (2017, 2025), Theatre-Theatre Festival in Perm in Russia (2018), Theaterfestival Boulevard in Den Bosch in Netherlands (2018), Antistatic International Festival in Sophia in Bulgaria (2020, 2022), Trigger in Lublana in Slovenia (2022), VN Hotspot in Lublana in Slovenia (2023), Bread & Dance in Prague in Czechia (2023, 2024), Hi PerformanCZ in Prague in Czechia (2024) and others.
In 1998-2000 adviser of Theatre Meeting Festival in Łódź/PL.
Juror of Theatre Exploration Festival in Suwałki/PL (2002) and Solo Festival Bamberka in Gorzow Wlkp/PL (2010, 2011, 2015).
Instructor of many workshops for youth and students in Poland and abroad.
Prizes, Awards
2001 – the prize for young artist of Silesian Province for “the significant the actor’s and the director’s property”.
2001 – the award of Regional Silesian Commission of Theatre Culture Association for the “passing on the knowledge about theatre and formation the creative spirit of young generation”.
2001 – the award of Central Commission of Theatre Culture Association in Poland for the “achievement in disseminating the theatrical culture”.
2002 – two main prizes, jury prize and public award for the performance “Femina” during International Festival of Dance, Theatre and Performance Arena in Erlangen in Germany.
2008 – jury award for the performance “Hourglass” during Festival of Polish Independent Theatres in Ostrow Wielkopolski in Poland for the “intransigence in stage vision of solitude”.
2012 – nomination for regional Golden Mask prize for script, direction and set design for “Cyrk Bellmer” (“Bellmer Circus”).
2014 – cultural prize of President of Katowice for 2014.
2018 – special regional Golden Mask prize for direction of “Nothing. Sketches for King Lear” and artistic achievements of Teatr A Part and International Performing Arts Festival A Part.
2022 – “Slobodan Milatović” award for best director/author for “Four More” at the FIAT International Alternative Theatre Festival in Podgorica, Montenegro – “throught the symbiosis of light, music and space as well as treatment of the female body he builds an extraordinary experience of the imperfection of beauty”.
2025 – nomination for Golden Mask prize (seasonal theatre award of the Silesian Voivodeship) for Teatr A Part for “nudity which is a costume” in the performance “I Died of Happiness” (2025)