Polish Theatre Spring

Polish Theatre Spring

Since 2011, Polish Theatre Spring has been a one-of-a-kind cultural event that draws Polish and expatriate theatre troupes from various countries to Lviv. The goal of the initiative is to promote their artistic output, facilitate the sharing of experiences and offer opportunities for people to learn more about one another.

Since 2011, Polish Theatre Spring has been a one-of-a-kind cultural event that draws Polish and expatriate theatre troupes from various countries to Lviv. The goal of the initiative is to promote their artistic output, facilitate the sharing of experiences and offer opportunities for people to learn more about one another.

The Polish People’s Theatre in Lviv was established in 1958. For 65 years, it has promoted the richness of Polish culture and preserved the Polish theatrical tradition in Lviv. Throughout that time, its noble idea attracted a group of professionals and amateurs – actors, composers, visual artists and choreographers – and not only Poles, but also Ukrainians and Russians passionate about Polish culture. The theatre is the oldest Polish organisation currently active in Lviv.

Since its first instalment, Polish Theatre Spring has enjoyed tremendous popularity. The Lviv stages have seen performances by such troupes as the Jerzy Cienciała Theatre from Vendryně (Czechia), the Polish Theatre Studio in Vilnius and the Polish People’s Theatre from Vilnius (Lithuania), the Vademecum Theatre from Vienna (Austria) and the J. I. Kraszewski Polish Theatre from Zhytomyr. It is an incredible opportunity for audiences to discover the theatrical diversity presented by groups from other countries.

But Polish Theatre Spring is also replete with other events as well. Examples include the premiere performance of an adaptation of Agnieszka Osiecka’s Apetyt na czereśnie created by the artists of the Maria Zankovetska Theatre in Lviv – a perfect demonstration of the potential of international cultural collaboration.

Every year, special guests include Polish creators and artists, and the Lviv stage has hosted such artists as Andrzej Seweryn, Bogusław Kierc, Sonia Bohosiewicz, Ewa Makomaska, Stanisław Górka and Anna Skubik. Other stars include Anna Seniuk, a very popular and well-known Polish actress, as well as her son, actor Grzegorz Małecki.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the organisers to make the festival a hybrid event – some plays took place on a real stage, while others could be watched online. These unusual circumstances did not dampen the public’s interest in the project, however, and the people of Lviv were very understanding.

In addition, Polish Theatre Spring is not only for adult audiences. The organisers have also taken younger people into account, and stage popular fairy tales and other plays aimed at educating and entertaining young people.

The main organiser of Polish Theatre Spring is the General Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Lviv, which is always eager to take an active part in promoting and supporting Polish culture abroad.

The event is not only a theatre festival or an opportunity to build bridges between cultures and peoples – it is an annual celebration of Polish theatre in Lviv, and one that attracts many residents of this beautiful city and visitors from abroad.