The Royal Baths play a special role in Stanisław Wyspiański's famous drama. During the lecture, we will find out, among other things, why they became for him the antechamber to Hades.

Tadeusz Sinko in Wyspiański's Antiquity stated that November Night is a drama full of contradictions and darkness, and as a "Homeric drama it is excellent, as a Polish drama it is dark". Wyspiański, as a total artist, used non-literary means in his drama in an innovative way: painting, music and theatre. "November Night" is part of the concept of a huge theatre, intrinsically mystery-tragedy. It is often juxtaposed with Adam Mickiewicz's Forefathers' Eve. The key to understanding November Night is a knowledge of the history of the November Uprising of 1830 and Greek mythology, especially the Greek myth of Demeter and her daughter Cora. It is a play about great historical events, about the destiny of the Polish nation and about Warsaw. The space of the Royal Baths plays a special role in this drama, where several important scenes take place. The Baths become an infernal space, a gateway to Hades. 'November Night' has been called a drama of place. In order to understand the meaning of this play, it is necessary to realise the symbolic role of the characters, historical phenomena and places appearing in it, as well as the time of year (November being "a dangerous time for Poles").

The lecture is part of the programme of events for the temporary exhibition 'Wyspiański's Iconosphere. November Night in the Royal Łazienki".