The Theatre Institute representatives took part in events organised by the Institut français at the Avignon Festival as part of the preparations for the Poland–France 2027 bilateral cultural season.
Given the important role played by the Zbigniew Raszewski Theatre Institute in Polish theatre, and with a view to future international collaborations, the Institut français has invited its representatives to participate in industry meetings in Avignon.
From 13 to 16 July, Karolina Dziełak-Żakowska and Krystyna Mogilnicka took part in the FOCUS Théâtre 2026 international industry meetings. These included the ‘Journée Professionnelle de L’Onda’, a full-day event organised by the Office National de Diffusion Artistique (ONDA) during which the ONDA’s programme of events for the 2026/27 season was announced, and ‘Les Rencontres de l’Institut Français’, industry meetings organised as part of French Institute Day at the Avignon Festival.
During ‘Les Rencontres de l’Institut français’ held on 15 July, the delegation members had the opportunity to meet many key partners and representatives of the theatre community in France, as well as other invited professionals from around the world. To celebrate the 80th edition of the Avignon Festival, of which Korea is the guest of honour, the Institut français invited 88 delegates from 21 countries, including Chile, Greece, Japan and Canada, to attend the latest FOCUS Théâtre event.
Olga Brzezińska chaired the session on the Polish theatre scene. The Deputy Director of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute outlined key issues relating to Polish theatre, performance, and dance, and spoke about the Adam Mickiewicz Institute’s activities and role. She invited Krystyna Mogilnicka, Head of the International Cooperation Department at the Theatre Institute, to deliver a presentation. After outlining the Institute’s mission, Ms Mogilnicka discussed its international activities, including those that support contemporary Polish drama and theatre translators. She presented these activities in the context of supporting individual professional groups within the theatre ecosystem.
The following speakers also took the floor: Dorota Semenowicz (representative of the Helena Modrzejewska National Old Theatre in Krakow, responsible for international cooperation and development) spoke about international theatre co-productions, emphasising the importance of inviting foreign artists to Poland and the opportunities for artistic exchange that such cooperation creates. Lena Tworkowska (specialist in international affairs at the Gustaw Holoubek Drama Theatre in Warsaw) presented initiatives aimed at providing a platform for, and supporting, artists from Central and Eastern Europe who are unable to create freely in their own countries. Michał Merczyński (director of the Nowy Teatr in Warsaw) spoke about the international presence of Polish theatre productions in the context of building relationships with audiences from other cultural circles.
In connection with the upcoming Poland–France Season and its participation in the Avignon Festival, the Theatre Institute has published a French translation of the report ‘Producers as Key Figures in the Theatre and Performing Arts Ecosystem’.
The full programme of the FOCUS Théâtre 2026 event is available here.
