Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre
Pomorskie
The Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre is a modern cultural institution located in the heart of Gdańsk, Poland. Established in 2008 and opened in 2014, the theatre is inspired by the 17th-century Gdańsk School of Fencing, which was the first public theatre in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and hosted performances by traveling English actors, including Shakespearean plays. The building’s design, by Italian architect Renato Rizzi, features a heavy brick exterior housing a wooden interior that partially reconstructs the original fencing school's auditorium from 1635, as depicted in Peter Willer's engraving. The theatre boasts an adaptable interior with an Elizabethan-style stage and a roof that opens in three minutes, allowing performances in natural daylight under open sky conditions. It can accommodate up to 600 spectators in theatrical setup and up to 1000 in concert configuration. The theatre serves as a venue for the annual Shakespeare Festival and offers a diverse program including Polish and European theatre productions, musical stages, and educational activities for various audiences. It functions as an impresario theatre without a permanent troupe, inviting companies from Poland and abroad. The building's innovative architectural solutions, such as a movable stage and audience pit, and a suspended wooden hall above the foyer, make it a distinctive cultural landmark and a tourist attraction in Gdańsk’s city center.
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Tip: Visit the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre during the annual Shakespeare Festival for a rich cultural experience. The theatre offers guided tours daily and creative workshops for families. Booking tickets in advance is recommended, especially for festival performances. The theatre provides accessible programs for people with disabilities and educational activities for children and seniors. Spring and early autumn are ideal visiting times to enjoy open-air performances under the theatre's unique retractable roof.
Interesting facts
- •The theatre’s roof opens in just three minutes, allowing performances under natural daylight and open sky, mimicking Elizabethan theatre conditions.
- •The interior wooden auditorium is a partial reconstruction of the 1635 School of Fencing, the first public theatre in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
- •The theatre building was a finalist in the 2014 Polityka Architectural Awards.
- •It is the first theatre building constructed in Poland in nearly 40 years dedicated to dramatic arts.
- •The theatre can adapt its stage and seating arrangement to host up to 1000 people in concert mode.
- •The theatre is a key venue for the international Shakespeare Festival in Gdańsk, attracting global theatre companies.
History
The Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre was founded in 2008 by the Theatrum Gedanense Foundation, with its building constructed between 2011 and 2014.
It is located on the site of the historic 17th-century School of Fencing, which was the first public theatre in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and hosted performances by English traveling actors.
The theatre’s design reflects this heritage, partially reconstructing the original wooden auditorium from 1635.
Since its opening, it has become the main venue for the Shakespeare Festival in Gdańsk and a significant cultural institution in the region.
The theatre’s first director was Professor Jerzy Limon, succeeded in 2021 by Agata Grenda.
Place Guide
Main Auditorium2014
The main performance space features a wooden interior inspired by the 1635 School of Fencing. It includes an adaptable Elizabethan-style stage and movable audience pit, designed for immersive theatrical experiences.
Retractable Roof2014
A unique architectural feature that opens in three minutes, enabling performances under natural light and open sky, recreating the atmosphere of Elizabethan theatres.
Foyer and Suspended Wooden Hall2014
The foyer serves as both the entrance hall and a cultural space, with a wooden hall suspended above it, connected by corridors leading to multiple gallery levels for spectators.
Contact
Phone: 58 351 01 01
