Theatre woos Danuta Walesa in wake of autobiography

The project comes just months after the release of Danuta Walesa's best-selling autobiography, Marzenia i Tajemnice (Dreams and Secrets), which chronicled the author's struggles to hold her family together during her husband's leadership of the Solidarity trade union.

Plans for a play have been put forward by award-winning Polish actress Krystyna Janda, filmstar and owner of the Polonia Theatre in Warsaw.

“At the moment we are trying to secure Danuta Walesa's acceptance of our project,” Janda told the Polish Press Agency, adding that she is expecting a conclusive response over the coming days.

Krystyna Janda would herself take on the role of the former first lady.

As it stands, the actress is no stranger to the theme.

She played leading roles in film-maker Andrzej Wajda's award-winning movies Man of Marble (1977) and Man of Iron (1981), landmark films for the pro-democracy movement in communist Poland.

Andrzej Wajda is indeed currently filming a biopic of Lech Walesa, with Robert Wieckiewicz (In Darkness) playing the Solidarity leader, and Agnieszka Grochowska as his wife. (nh)