A family saga and history of the contemporary Polish theatre in one, full of anecdotes and memories from the vibrantly colourful professional life of Krzysztof Orzechowski, this book offers a peek into the backstage of  the theatre world from the perspective of an artist whose life and career have become inextricalby linked with the medium, from his acting debut to the director of the Słowacki Theatre in Cracow. Tangled family fortunes are entwined here with confessions of a young boy, then fledging actor and, finally, a mature man, casting – according to some, controversial – judgements and opinions about the condition of the theatre in Poland. His sharp, clear-sighted perspective makes the turbulent, often complicated fates of Polish contemporary theatre – from the post-Solidarity transformation to the 21st century - easy to follow, presenting at the same time a fascinating, if subjective portrait gallery of the people associated with the thespian world. No less interesting is the underlying story of the author’s intelligentsia family which seems to be an amalgamate of different cultures and traditions. This  tale, full of warmth and compassion, reaches as far back as the mid-nineteenth century and is both unique and typical, the way perhaps all family stories are. The book contains nearly three hundred photographs which complement Krzysztof Orzechowski’s  narrative.