Poland’s National Opera shoe maestro to pass on skills free of charge
15/08/2018
Mr Motyczynski learned the art from his father and then ran his own studio for almost 25 years before lending his skills to the National Opera company.
Courses will take place in September and October at the city’s Museum of Praga and participants will receive a total of 60 hours of tuition. They will be asked to attend for three hours on two or three afternoons per week. Those interested should visit the museum’s website and fill in an application form. There will be no charge for people to take part but the organisers want to interview potential participants to assess their suitability for inclusion.
At the end, participants will be asked to try to pass on some of their newly acquired shoe knowledge, perhaps by offering demonstrations to groups of schoolchildren.
Mr Motyczynski has said he is keen to pass on skills that he fears may be dying out in Poland.
A production at Polish National Opera often requires more than 100 pairs of shoes: for the singers – soloists and chorus members, dancers, and extras. All are tailor-made, according to the set or costume designer’s requirements.
The shoemakers’ workshop that Marek Motyczynski runs is also where other leather components of costumes, such as belts or harnesses, are made. Mr Marek Motyczynski and his team even carry out repairs on instrument cases for the orchestra.
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