JP II - Superstar!

Italian actor Massimiliano Colonna as Pope John Paul II. Photo: PAP/Jacek Bednarczyk

The premiere of Karol Wojtyla: The True Story at Krakow's Slowacki Theatre coincided with the 9th anniversary of the pope's 2 April 2005 death.

It is the first musical inspired by the life of the Polish pontiff, and the production opens with the infamous assassination attempt outside St Peter's in May 1981.

Much of the drama is set in Krakow, where the young Wojtyla studied, endured the Nazi German occupation and later became archbishop.

“We wanted to include John Paul's entire life in one production, but being limited to two hours we were compelled to show Karol Wojtyla's life before he became pope,” commented director Duccio Forzano.

The titular role is played by three Italian actors, representing the pontiff at various stages in his life.

The pope both sings and dances in the production, and the score was written by Israeli pop star Noa, who sang a rendition of Ave Maria for the pontiff in 1994.

There will be two more performances at the Habsburg-era Slowacki Theatre, before the production moves to Warsaw, and then Rome in a fortnight's time.

Students at the Krakow Polytechnic left coordinated lights in their dorms to illuminate a cross and Pope John Paul II's initials, marking the 9th anniversary of the pontiff's death. Photo: PAP/Stanislaw Rozpedzik

Meanwhile, Poles nationwide paid tribute to Pope John Paul II in commemorative masses marking the ninth anniversary of his death. In Krakow, students at the Polytechnic created a glowing tribute with lights in dorms marking a cross and the pope's initials. A similar gesture was made nine years ago when the pontiff died. (nh/pg)