Shakespeare & Poland Festival 2024, Stratford upon Avon

We are proud to say that this year's Shakespeare & Poland Festival (22-23 June) in Stratford upon Avon was another wonderful celebration of Polish culture and a great occasion of British-Polish 🇬🇧🇵🇱 cultural exchange. Thank you to everyone who took part, came to our events and enjoyed this weekend with us.

Relive the 2024 festival with us with this short highlights film.

The 2024 festival opened with a spellbinding and visually engaging theatre performance "Made of Stone", by Krakow Street Theatre company "Scena Kalejdoskop" ‪@szczudlarze‬ , who drove all the way from Poland with their stunning masks and puppets to entrance the audience at the Stratford Play House.
Visit Scena Kalejdoskop's English webpage for more information about this acclaimed street theatre company: https://tinyurl.com/22t2uyyk

The second day of the festival followed with two Sold Out venetian mask-making workshops with fun had by both adults and children at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. We would like to thank the Royal Shakespeare Company for providing the space and organisational support for the workshops. Afterwards, Scena Kalejdoskop returned with their incredible colourful puppets which they brought to life so beautifully during the outdoor Folk Reflections Walkabout Performance on Bancroft Terrace.

The afternoon of the second day continued with a panel discussion in partnership with the Shakespeare Institute on the subject of 'Shakespeare’s theatre in Poland and the woman’s voice' at Stratford Town Hall. We were honoured to have with us legendary and award-winning actress Dame Janet Suzman and critically acclaimed director Helena Kaut-Howson, who shared some memories from their phenomenal careers as well as academics Professor Tiffany Stern, Aneta Mancewicz, Hara Yannas and moderator Professor Elizabeth Schafer.

The Closing Gala of this year's festival was a concert in aid of the Shakespeare Hospice in which established musicians - pianist Anna Szalucka and violinist Jaga Klimaszewska - gave a beautiful performance of a variety of works by some of Poland's greatest composers.
More about the musicans here:
https://www.ram.ac.uk/people/anna-sza...
https://jagaklimaszewska.com/

Thank you to everyone who joined us this year. We would also like to thank our wonderful local partners on the festival Copernicana CIC whose effort and dedication helped to make this latest edition a fantastic success as well as the fantastic staff at Stratford Town Hall for hosting us and their organisational help at Sunday's events.

Video produced and edited by Marcin Urban (https://www.urbanrec.eu/)

Music, 'Melodic Piano' by Nazar Rybak: https://www.melodyloops.com/tracks/me...
Permission granted for Melody Loops and it's licensees, including Marcin Urban to use this Music.