If Only We Had a Time Machine…

Imagine seeing the world as it was a hundred years ago—becoming part of it, walking among its people… Or even catching a glimpse of the future, just for a moment. Time travel sparks the imagination. For many, it is a grand dream, the promise of an extraordinary adventure. But for nine-year-old Rafał, living in the Warsaw Ghetto, it is something else—above all, an escape from the brutal reality of war.

Rafał lives in the Ghetto with his grandfather, who makes a living playing the violin. As conditions worsen, his grandfather arranges for Rafał’s escape, though he himself stays behind, trapped on the other side of the wall. Rafał hides with other children in an abandoned zoo, experiencing illness, fear, and longing, but also discovering friendship, solidarity, and compassion. Along with his new friends, Lidka and Emek, he dreams of building an ark to flee as far as possible—from the Ghetto, the occupied city, and the terrifying Morlocks.

"The Time Ark" is a moving yet gripping story of deep friendship, love, and survival. It is a story about the power of memory. The past cannot be changed, but remembering it shapes a better present and future. It is also an invitation to embark on a journey through time—one that requires no ticket, no miraculous teleportation device. A book, a film, a storyteller, or even this very story, based on real events, places, and people, can be a time machine.

During World War II, the Warsaw Zoo was called an ark because its director, Jan Żabiński, and his family hid many escapees from the Warsaw Ghetto within its grounds. One of the characters in this story, Stella, who helps Rafał escape, is inspired by the real-life Stefania Grodzieńska. And Rafał? There were many boys like him.

"The Time Ark", written by Marcin Szczygielski and adapted for the stage, has received numerous awards, including the Grand Prix in the 3rd Astrid Lindgren Literary Competition, First Prize in the 6th Literary Competition of the Museum of Children's Books, the Kinderbuchpreis 2015 in Austria’s 20th Jury der Jungen Leser Literary Competition, and a distinction in the 2013 Book of the Year competition by the Polish IBBY section.

https://www.teatrkubus.pl/spektakle-dla-dzieci/arka-czasu