European festivals Association

Gdansk Shakespeare Festival, the laureate of EFFE Award 2017-2018, is an international annual theatre event taking place in Gdansk, Poland. The event begins in the last week of July and lasts 10 days. The festival presents outstanding theatre performances inspired by the works of William Shakespeare as well as Fringe stage called ShakespeareOFF, comprised of monodramas, street theatre, alternative theatre, happenings, stand-ups, concerts, films and visual art. The festival explores Shakespeare’s heritage by selecting the most interesting, modern productions from around the world. It also organises the Golden Yorick Competition for the Best Polish Shakespearean Production of the season. The Mainstage programme is accompanied by educational workshops and seminars, also Q&A meetings with artists, critics and theatre creators. The festival focuses on international cooperation – it serves as an exchange platform where artists and culture professionals discuss and share their experience and ideas. 

Gdansk Shakespeare Festival has been organised annually since 1997 by Theatrum Gedanense Foundation and, since 2008, by the Gdansk Shakespeare Theatre. There were over two hundred theatre groups presented from all over the world. The festival hosted the most acknowledged interpreters of Shakespeare such as: Peter Brook, Luk Perceval, Jan Lauwers, Romeo Castellucci, Elizabeth LeCompte, Lev Dodin, Eimuntas Nekrošius, Oskaras Koršunovas, Robert Sturua, Silviu Purcărete, Declan Donellan, and others.  

The festival is predominantly housed in the Gdansk Shakespeare Theatre, nonetheless there are numerous theatres in Tricity area used to show festival’s presentations as well as the Opera house, the Gothic Churches, cultural centres, bars, etc. Moreover there are street-theatre presentations taking place in the open air as well as the Gdansk Shakespeare Theatre’s courtyard, terrace and the walls (equipped with walking paths). The whole City of Gdańsk lives the festival and celebrates the legacy of Shakespeare during the 10 summer days at the peak of the tourist season by the Baltic Sea.