The new theatrical production “I Was Everything”, written and performed by Piotr Ramlau, directed by Michał Zdeb, and featuring an original score by acclaimed composer and pianist Yana Couto, premiered this month.
“I Was Everything” is a deeply introspective monodrama - a journey inward, into memory, fear, and the unrelenting search for meaning. It explores a profound rebellion against existence as it is: a world that feels insufficient, unsatisfying, and perpetually distant from what it was meant to be. Yet within this confrontation lies a quiet hope and the possibility of opening oneself to authenticity, of finding strength and renewal in one’s own experience.
At the heart of the performance is Yana Couto’s original music, composed specifically for this production. Known for her emotive neoclassical sound, she weaves a musical narrative that amplifies the play’s emotional tension and psychological depth. Blending minimal piano, delicate field recordings, sound effects and intimate vocalisations, Yana Couto creates a soundscape that mirrors the fragile emotional landscape of the protagonist. The music becomes an inner echo and a reflection of what remains unspoken, guiding the audience through the character’s shifting states of mind.
The score also features two original songs: one performed by Piotr Ramlau himself, and another sung by the world-class soprano singer Edyta Krzemień, whose haunting vocal performance adds depth and resonance to the play’s emotional core.
“Yana’s music doesn’t illustrate — it breathes with the character,” says director Michał Zdeb. “It becomes part of the inner monologue, a reflection of everything unspoken.”
The result is a powerful theatrical experience. “I Was Everything” is not only a story about despair but also about hope: the hope that through vulnerability and self-acceptance, one may find the path to resurrection.
Production Credits
Written and performed by: Piotr Ramlau
Directed by: Michał Zdeb
Original music by: Yana Couto
Premiere:19.06.2025
Venue: Studio Teatralno-Aktorskie STA, Poznań
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