Founder, Creative Director, Writer and Producer of Enigma Theatre.
Karolina has an MA in Arts in Directing for Theatre from University College Dublin and BA (Hons) in Literature, Film and Drama from Dublin Business School.
As the creative director of Enigma Theatre, Karolina wrote and directed a successful production of a new adaptation of the avant-garde play The Madman and the Nun by Witkacy which was staged in June 2014 in The Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin. Enigma Theatre received great reviews (RTE 1 Arena- Sinead Gleeson, The Public Reviews, No More Workhorse and The Irish Times) and sold out all the shows. One of Karolina’s biggest achievements was that Smock Alley Theatre offered to be Enigma’s partner with regard to future productions.
In March 2015, Karolina organised Theatre Night with Enigma in The Smock Alley Theatre, an event supported by Dublin City Council and the Polish Embassy in Dublin as a part of PolskaÉire Festival 2015. As an Event Manager, Karolina was responsible for seeking sponsorship and funding from government and non-government organisations. Karolina’s role as an MC of a panel discussion allowed her to investigate to what extent Irish theatre has changed throughout the years and how Polish culture, theatre and music have influenced modern Irish theatre practitioners. Among the panel guests were Marcus Lamb, Cathal Quinn (Mouth on Fire) and Brokentalkers Theatre. Karolina aimed to foster greater integration between the Polish and Irish communities. One of Karolina’s achievements was that Mr Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality and Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Mr Piotr Rakowski, Charges d’affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Dublin attended the panel discussion as the Guests of Honour.
Karolina has also previously worked with The Gaiety School of Acting and Drama Society in UCD in Dublin on numerous productions.
Karolina desires to create professional theatre that continually provides new levels of artistic excellence and produces new multicultural plays and alternative drama in Dublin.
Training & qualifications:
Year, Title, Institution, Facilitator of course/workshop
Jul. 2016 Cambridge English Level 5 Certificates in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA) University of Cambridge.
Mar. 2015- Sept.2015 Certificate in Advanced Project Management, NFQ Level 8 Special Purpose Award Key Modules: Project Planning Tools & Techniques, Project Management & Evaluation, Dublin Business School, Dublin.
Sept.2014 -Aug. 2015 M.A. in Arts – Directing for Theatre, University College Dublin, Dublin.
Thesis title: ‘An Examination of Technology, Memory and Identity in Beckett’s theatre, through the lenses of Technoself Studies, Cognitive Psychology and Psychoanalytic Theory.’
Sept. 2013-June 2014 Drama, Music and English Teacher at Polish Teacher Association (SEN), Dublin.
Sept. 2009- June 2013 BA (Hons) Honours Bachelor Degree – ‘Literature, Film and Drama’, (First Class Honours) Dublin Business School, Dublin.
Thesis title: `The Truth behind the Door-Strindberg and Existentialism’.
2009- Theatre Workshops- Kantor Minimal Art Theatrical Method (minimalism of acting tools, playing with paradoxes, ritualizing banal situations, improvisation) with theatre director Dariusz Skibinski, Dublin.
2008-2009 Performance Year in Acting, the Gaiety School of Acting with Antoinette Duffy, Dublin.
2008 Advanced Page to Stage, the Gaiety School of Acting with Oonagh McLaughlin, Dublin.
2007 Introduction Singing for Adults, Waltons New School of Music with Antonia Boyle, Dublin.
Theatre Credits:
‘Socrates and his Clouds’ by William Lyons (November 2015), director: Karolina Szemerda. The completed work was shown to the audiences at UCD Drama Society Theatre.
‘The Stronger’ by August Strindberg (February-April 2015), director: Karolina Szemerda. The completed work was shown to the audiences (including acclaimed director Patrick Mason) at UCD. This project was part of the MA Directing for Theatre degree at UCD.
‘Theatre Night with Enigma’ (March 2015), a panel discussion about Samuel Beckett and Tadeusz Kantor.
MC and producer: Karolina Szemerda, Enigma Theatre, The Smock Alley Theatre. More details: http://enigmatheatre.ie/theatre-night-with-enigma/
‘Far Away’ by Caryl Churchill (Oct.-Nov. 2014), rehearsed readings at UCD. Director: Karolina Szemerda. This project was part of the MA Directing for Theatre degree at UCD.
‘Riders to the Sea’ by J.M. Synge, (Sept.- Nov.2014), rehearsed readings at UCD, director: Karolina Szemerda. This project was part of the MA Directing for Theatre degree at UCD.
‘Following Madness’ (August 2014), fundraising event and photo exhibition. MC and producer: Karolina Szemerda, Enigma Theatre, InSpire Gallery. More details: http://enigmatheatre.ie/following-madness-charity-event/
‘The Madman and The Nun’ by S.I. Witkiewicz, also known as Witkacy (June 2014) writer, director and producer: Karolina Szemerda. Enigma Theatre, The Smock Alley Theatre. More details: http://enigmatheatre.ie/the-madman-and-the-nun-8/
Theatre Credits (acting):
‘The Boot’s on the other foot’ (September 2009), Actress: Karolina Szemerda. Performance based on post-Kantor Minimal Art Theatrical Method, The Teachers’ Club theatre. Directed by Dariusz Skibinski.
‘Antigone’ by Sophocles (2009) Actress: Karolina Szemerda (Antigone). Dialogues scenes/ Final Showcase, 2008-2009, Gaiety School of Acting.
‘Antigone’ by Sophocles (2009) Actress: Karolina Szemerda (Ismene). Dialogue scenes/ Final Showcase, 2008-2009, Gaiety School of Acting.
‘Summerfolk’ by Maxim Gorky (2009) Actress: Karolina Szemerda (Olga). Final Showcase, Gaiety School of Acting.
‘Like a virgin’ by Gordon Steel (2008) Actress: Karolina Szemerda (Angela). Monologue Showcase, Gaiety School of Acting.
TV and Films Credits (acting): 2008-2010
‘Propulsion’ (Lead role), Filmmaking competition Cannonball Run, David Geoghegan
‘The Globe’, short film (Florist), Dundalk I.T. College, Shane Birdy
Photo Modelling Project, (Model), Dublin Institute of Technology, Photography BA, Derek Fortas
‘Savage’ feature film, (Extras), Office: Savage Production Ltd, Brendan Muldowney
’Representation of women in pop culture’, video-installation project (Woman), IADT College, Joasia Goldyn
’Soul mates’, short film (Russian Girl), Trisha Flood IADT, Joasia Goldyn
’No laughing Matter’, movie (Tattoo Girl- extras), Ed Guiney& Catherine McGee CABRA T.V. Ltd., Nick Renton
‘Get your priorities straight’, short film (Beautiful Woman), Paul Curran IADT Student Commercial, Robert Manson
