Remigiusz Grzela

(b. 1977) – poet, playwright and author of biographical books in which he often describes how history at large affected individual lives during World War II.

Grzela graduated from the Department of Journalism and Political Sciences at the University of Warsaw. He debuted with the volume “Świat banalny. Wiersze” (A Banal World. Poems). This was followed by other lyrical works, as well as collections of interviews with figures from the art world, scientists and thinkers. He also reached for the form of extended interview in his conversations with, among others, Marian Kociniak and Barbara Krafftówna.

His first novel, entitled “Bądź moim Bogiem” (Be My God), is inspired by Wiera Gran, a famous songstress who performed in the Warsaw ghetto during the German occupation and after the war was accused of collaborating with the Germans. While describing the artist’s last years, Grzela cloaks facts in literary fiction. He also introduces the character of a young journalist who starts to realise that his profession ends where the private story begins.

Grzela’s book “Wybór Ireny” (Irena’s Choice) could be termed a reportage biography. It is the story of Irena Gelblum, known as Irena Conti, and her life, full of fictions, secrets and myths. Grzela revives the memory of this daring liaison officer of the Jewish Combat Organisation who chose non-existence, opting to be removed from memoirs and historical books. In “Podwójne życie reporterki” (The Reporter’s Double Life), in turn, he created a biographical story of Oriana Fallaci and Teresa Torańska. The two journalists would at times pass each other on their professional paths, but met only on the pages of this book, which discusses their uncompromising nature, professionalism and dogged pursuit of their goals.

Famous figures are also the theme of the book “Z kim tak ci będzie źle jak ze mną? Historia Kaliny Jędrusik i Stanisława Dygata” (Who Will Make You as Miserable as Me? The Story of Kalina Jędrusik and Stanisław Dygat). Here, the author follows the careers of the two artists and their fraught decisions, while also debunking the myth that the brilliant writer created the vampy woman.

A separate part of Grzela’s oeuvre are texts meant for the stage, such as “Błękitny diabeł” (The Blue Devil) or “Oczy Brigitte Bardot” (The Eyes of Brigitte Bardot), performed by Barbara Krafftówna. The author has been associated with theatre for years. He was the literary director of the Teatr na Woli, and currently holds the same position at the Jewish Theatre, where he organises the Festival of Jewish Culture in Warsaw.

Grzela is also a theatre director and co-author of the three-episode documentary “Polska Jasienicy” (Jasienica’s Poland), as well as the film “Krafftówna w krainie czarów” (Krafftówna in Wonderland). In 2025 he became an ambassador of the Cała Polska Czyta Dzieciom (The Whole Poland Reads to Children) literacy campaign and foundation.