‘Black Swan’ for the opening of the Kontakt Festival
The star of the twenty-ninth edition of the Kontakt International Theatre Festival will be John Malkovich, who, with Lithuanian actress Ingeborge Dapkūnaitė, will perform in the play Solitude of the Cotton Fields, directed by Timofey Kulyabin. The programme of the festival, which begins on Friday (30 May), includes twelve competition performances from Poland and Europe, meetings with artists and accompanying events. Organised by the Horzycy Theatre, the event is financially supported by the regional government.
The first competition performance will be “Black Swan” by Jaunais Rīgas teātris from Latvia, directed by Alvis Hermanis, whose script is based on Dostoyevsky’s “The Idiot”. The festival programme also includes a performance of “Ophelia’s Got Talent” directed by the Viennese choreographer Florentina Holzinger and “Revenge” by Warsaw’s Teatr Komedia with Maciej Stuhr as Papkin, prepared with flair by Berlin’s Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz. Festival host Theatre Horzycy will present “The Anguish of Life” and “Titanic”.
The Kontakt Festival also includes meetings with filmmakers, film screenings and concerts. The announcement of the results and the award ceremony will take place on Saturday (6 June).
The Marshal’s cultural institutions also invite you to events organised over the coming weekend.
At the Chopin Centre in Szafarnia, 55 young pianists from 18 countries are competing in the 32nd Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition for Children and Young People. The announcement of the results, the award ceremony and the final concert will take place on Sunday (25 May).
Opera Nova invites you to ‘Faust’ directed by Paweł Szkotak. Performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (23, 24 and 25 May).
On Saturday (24 May), there will be a gala to conclude the 9th National Review of Diplomas and Musical Examinations of Higher Artistic Schools Przygrywka, organised by the Musical Theatre. The gala will be followed by a biographical performance “The Happiest Day” starring Barbara Garstka.
At the Wozownia Art Gallery on Friday (23 May), the opening of Beata Fertala-Harlender’s exhibition “Splots – towards the thread and warp”.
The Centre of Contemporary Art Znaki Czasu (Signs of the Times) invites you to the final curatorial tour of the exhibition ‘Don’t ask about Poland. Z kolekcji Katarzyny Szafrańskiej i Wojciecha Szafrańskiego’, which will take place on Saturday (24 May).
The regional government runs 17 cultural institutions that offer a wide repertoire of cultural proposals.
- Ignacy Jan Paderewski Pomeranian Philharmonic in Bydgoszcz
- Gallery and Centre for Children’s Artistic Creativity in Toruń
- “Wozownia” Art Gallery in Toruń
- Archaeological Museum in Biskupin
- Professor Maria Znamierowska-Prüfferowa Ethnographic Museum in Toruń
- Museum of the Kujawy and Dobrzyń Land in Włocławek
- “NOVA” Opera in Bydgoszcz
- Chopin Centre in Szafarnia
- Palace in Lubostroń
- Wilam Horzyca Theatre in Toruń
- Regional Public Library and Copernican Library in Toruń
- Dr. Witold Bełza Regional and Municipal Public Library in Bydgoszcz
- Voivodeship Cultural Animation Center in Toruń
- Kujawsko-Pomorskie Cultural Center in Bydgoszcz
- Kujawsko-Pomorskie Musical Theater in Toruń
- Kujawsko-Pomorskie Heritage Center in Toruń
- Kujawsko-Pomorskie Center for Education and Innovation in Toruń
Beata Krzemińska
Spokesperson for the Marshal’s Office
23 May 2025