Jan Szymczyk

Instrumentalist, a teacher of tradition for the Węgajty Theatre. He lived in Nowica at number 9 - a Lemkian village near Gorlice, in the Low Beskids. He was a Zagórzan, brother of Anna Habaj (Habajka), also a resident of Nowica, and a neighbour of Mr and Mrs Krok. He made drums and played them. He also quickly learned to play the violin received as a gift from the Węgajty Theatre. He played music with various local bands, including musicians from Oderne. The creators of the Węgajty Theatre call him " a fragment of a living tradition (...). He was like - a builder of cathedrals - he remained anonymous, he did not gain popularity or fame". The group visited his home many times during winter carolling and also in the summer. Jan Szymczyk was the first to formulate the idea of a "field school", which years later was realised by the Węgajty Theatre in the form of the Other Theatre School. It was also in his home that the idea for the play The Inn Towards Eternal Peace was born. As a person, "he had this special personal charm. Just being with him was an adventure. You could learn a lot from him". His grave is located in Gorlice. Jan Szymczyk is one of the characters in Waldemar Czechowski’s documentary film Zabawa w Nowicy (1992). For years, his cottage has been home to musicians who form a band that honours Jan Szymczyk’s place of residence – "Nowica 9".