BYDGOSZCZ THE WALL SHOW
Polish Road to Freedom
Between 2014 and 2020, the flagship project of The Echoes Project was the music and film performance titled “Bydgoszcz THE WALL Show. Polish Road to Freedom.” The core of the show was the music from Pink Floyd’s “THE WALL” album, performed live in its entirety by The Echoes Project, accompanied by a chamber orchestra (Bydgoszcz Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marek Czekała) and a children’s choir (Mezza Voce from the Youth Palace, conducted by Izabela Cywińska-Łomżyńska).
In addition to the musical aspect, an important component of the Bydgoszcz THE WALL Show is a specially filmed production created specifically for this performance. The film is based on animation combined with archival footage. It is shown during the performance, serving as a visual illustration of the music (originally directed by Marcin Sauter; after the premiere, a second version of the film was created, directed by Jarek Kuropatwiński). This film is entirely original and is not a remake of Alan Parker’s iconic 1982 film. The story depicts Poland’s struggle for freedom through the experiences of “Polishpink” – a boy who lost his father (a pilot who fought in the Battle of Britain) during the war, endures a period of communist indoctrination, and eventually frees himself to become a rock musician and activist in the underground anti-communist opposition.
During the premiere, which took place on October 25, 2014, at the Polish Theatre in Bydgoszcz, the artists were accompanied by the theatre group “Juvenkreacja.” Against the backdrop of a white brick wall blocking the entrance to the theatre, they performed a happening that transported participants into the atmosphere of demonstrations from the 1980s. The entrance to the Polish Theatre in Bydgoszcz was bricked up. Unable to enter the theatre, the audience became unwitting participants in the happening, where they were checked and questioned by “MO” officers. After the happening, the actors moved the wall onto the stage, where it continued to serve as an element of building tension throughout the performance.
During the Bydgoszcz THE WALL Show, the music is performed entirely live. This is made possible by the participation of a children’s choir and a chamber orchestra, setting this performance apart from other interpretations – including Roger Waters’ own 2013 concert at the National Stadium, where the choral and orchestral parts were played from a backing track. The involvement of children also allows for unique choreographic and theatrical-musical solutions, introducing new elements not present in other performances of THE WALL.
The musical foundation for THE ECHOES PROJECT’s performance is partially based on the album version of THE WALL. However, in many sections, the band also draws inspiration from live versions known from Pink Floyd’s concert tour following the album’s release (later compiled in the album Is There Anybody Out There? The Wall Live 1980–81). These live versions are more elaborate and sometimes sound slightly sharper than the original studio recording.
The Bydgoszcz THE WALL Show was created to commemorate the 25th anniversary of democratic changes in Central Europe, symbolized by the first partially democratic elections in Central Europe (June 4, 1989) and the fall of the Berlin Wall (November 9, 1989). Its message is to present, in an accessible yet artistic form, the history of the anti-communist opposition in Central Europe, the living conditions at that time (such as school life and indoctrination), and the success of this seemingly hopeless struggle. This success began with Poland’s Solidarity movement (August 1980), followed by the Round Table Talks and the resulting first partially democratic elections in Central Europe (June 4, 1989), ultimately culminating in the fall of the Berlin Wall, which had previously symbolized the Iron Curtain.
The primary inspiration for Jarek Kuropatwiński’s concept was Roger Waters’ performance of THE WALL in the empty space created by the fall of the Berlin Wall on July 21, 1990 (eight months after the wall’s demolition). Another source of inspiration was Waters’ contemporary reinterpretation of THE WALL, in which he adds modern themes related to human rights advocacy. THE WALL also had a unique anti-communist reception on our side of the Iron Curtain. Jarek Kuropatwiński’s concept also references this perception of THE WALL during the deep 1980s.
The Bydgoszcz THE WALL Show was documented in a film by Jarek Kuropatwiński, which premiered at the Adria Cinema in Bydgoszcz in March 2017. DVD copies of this film were distributed to Polish diplomatic missions to promote Poland worldwide. From that moment, The Echoes Project began presenting the Bydgoszcz THE WALL Show at subsequent concerts, with their own synchronized version of The Wall film directed by Jarek Kuropatwiński shown in the background.
MMP Neupack produced another wall for the band, which not only served as a backdrop and prop for concerts but also as a screen for projecting the film.
In the meantime, the Bydgoszcz THE WALL Show was also presented in other cities in Poland (Bydgoszcz, Toruń, Grudziądz, Poznań, Gdańsk), including prestigious venues such as the Earth Hall in Poznań (with over 1,000 tickets sold), the European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk, and under the walls of Grudziądz for over 3,000 spectators during the 6th Gala of Lights and Energy.
