Anna Podstawka

Anna Podstawka serves as Professor in the Department of Drama and Theatre at the Institute of Literary Studies, Faculty of Humanities, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL). Holding the academic title dr hab. alongside her professorship, she represents a senior faculty member with continuous scholarly engagement since at least 2006, evidenced by extensive publication records, thesis supervision, and conference leadership. Her institutional affiliation remains active with no indication of part-time status or retirement.

Professor Podstawka's research centers on Polish theatre history, with specialized expertise in Young Poland-era drama, religious motifs in performance, literary adaptations for stage, and the works of Jan Kasprowicz. Her scholarship consistently explores intersections of gender (particularly femininity in theatre), cultural identity, and spiritual dimensions within Polish dramatic traditions. Recent work demonstrates evolving focus toward multicultural perspectives in theatre, notably Vilnius-region cultural dynamics, while maintaining core interest in historical drama reception and adaptation processes.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals strong thematic continuity in Polish literary-theatrical studies, with increasing emphasis on regional multiculturalism and contemporary reinterpretations of historical works. Her output spans peer-reviewed journals like Annales UMCS and collective volumes, consistently addressing drama theory, adaptation practices, and Polish cultural identity through theatrical lenses.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Organizer of the annual Professor Czesław Zgorzelski Competition (2014-2022)
• Lead organizer of the Conference of University Polish Studies Departments (2010-2022)
• Principal investigator for the national project "Wizjonerzy. Norwid-Wyszyński-Lem" (2021)

Professor Podstawka has supervised over 40 diploma theses (25+ Bachelor's, 15+ Master's, 2 Doctoral) from 2010-2025, covering diverse topics including femininity in theatre, literary adaptations, and historical drama. She directs significant research infrastructure through regular conference organization and competition leadership, while serving on committees including KUL's Senate Publishing Committee and Faculty Quality of Education Commission. Her academic leadership extends to editorial roles for publications like The Theatre and Religious Drama Nowadays (2016).

Within KUL's Department of Drama and Theatre, she contributes to institutional research teams focused on Polish literary adaptation and religious drama, collaborating with the Institute of Literary Studies on projects bridging historical scholarship with contemporary performance practices. Her work maintains strong connections to national scholarly networks including the Polish Society for Theatre Research and the Association of Friends of Jan Kasprowicz's Creativity.