‘"In Poland, which is to say nowhere"’

“Set in Poland, that is to say Nowhere,” is the famous opening to Alfred Jarry’s absurdist play Ubu Roi. Words that could be applied to the political and cultural shift effected by Poland during the past year. Since the conservative right took office there has been a storm brewing in the cultural world. Some even speak of a cultural war. Good reason to invite four top literary figures from Poland to speak about what is happening in their country. Writers Olga Tokarczuk,Ziemowit Szczerek, Julia Fiedorzcuk and Grzegorz Jankowicz (director of the Conrad Festival) discuss the role of the writer as critic and voice of society during times of political repression. The talk will me moderated by Stéphane Alonso, EU-reporter of NRC Handelsblad in Brussels.