The Green, Green Grass: Green, Wild Elderflower at Riverside Studios

Production photo

In the search for dreams and a better life, the grass (or maybe the elderflower, which is popular in Polish cuisine) may look greener on the other side. But the lure and the pull of home, be they tomato soup (a staple comfort food in Poland) or Polish dumplings (known as pierogi), remain. These are the themes in this funny and charming chamber musical, Green, Wild Elderflower (Szalony, Zielony Bez). Using the songs and stories of legendary Polish songwriter Agnieszka Osiecka, it tells a story of migration and disillusionment. And as a citizen of the world (or at least three countries), it’s a tale that will feel familiar even if you aren’t familiar with Polish (or their pierogi). It’s currently having a short run at Riverside Studios. 

Three performers, Mateusz Mirek, Elwira Rejnowicz, and Michał Nowak, share the role of a restless woman from Warsaw in search of freedom, dreaming of being anywhere but in Warsaw. But through trial, tribulation and lots of sexual escapades, it doesn’t always pan out to be what she dreamed it would be. Now that’s something anyone who has moved to another country can relate to. 


The songs and stories are drawn from the writings of Osiecka, who led an unconventional life and often travelled to New York. Agnieszka Osiecka is well known in Poland for her poetic lyrics and is considered a major cultural figure, akin to Leonard Cohen or Bob Dylan. But the themes of leaving home, finding freedom and finding loss feel universal. There are some inventive set pieces, including fancy footwork and a game show where the audience is invited to suggest appropriate excuses for not inviting friends over. Apparently, the Polish are notorious for not wanting to leave a party—a humorous nod to Polish social custom. For someone unfamiliar with Osiecka’s work, the piece is a warm introduction to it and is both funny and touching. 

The history of Poland has been one of emigration until recently. Following the country’s 2004 accession to the European Union in 2004, and in the years leading up to Brexit, estimates suggest up to 850,000 Polish individuals moved to the UK. Everyone knew (or wanted to know) a Polish builder they could call on for help. The Polish economic miracle of the 2020s has reversed this, and net migration in the UK has been negative due to Britain’s stagnant economy, inflation and poor economic choices. Immigration may be a top issue for Britons, but as this show reminds us, migrants go where the dumplings are best.  

Spoken in Polish with surtitles (although I was hoping to see an approach in the style of Mel Brooks) and directed by Mateusz Mirek with musical direction by Jan Tabęcki, Green Wild Elderflower concludes at the Riverside Studios on 19 April. Check their website for future dates. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Production photo


Production photos: Richard Thompson

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