Located in the city centre, the Drama Theatre is situated in a building erected in the 1930s and commenced its operations as early as 1944. The building at Białystok’s 12 Elektryczna street has never been thoroughly refurbished before, all the while serving the cultural needs of the residents.

“The history and potential of the Drama Theatre are amazing. This potential will be revealed within the next two years. As part of the Polish Deal, this regional jewel will enrich the Polish culture, as well as the culture of the Podlaskie Voivodeship, and primarily Białystok itself”, said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

High culture for the most refined tastes

The Aleksander Węgierko Drama Theatre in Białystok is one of Podlaskie Voivodeship’s highlights. While the Theatre’s repertoire tackles complex issues of today’s world and modern-day man, its plays are not exclusively for highly demanding theatre goers. Other options include top-quality humorous and entertaining shows. To cater to younger viewers, the Theatre offers adaptations of classic children’s literature and staging of contemporary fairy tales. It also organises workshops for youth and adults alike.

The East Direction (Pol.: Kierunek Wschód) festival is the Drama Theatre’s largest project. It is a unique series of performances presenting the culture of Poland’s eastern borderlands. Also presented during the festival are shows from beyond the eastern border of Poland.

The Drama Theatre has never undergone any serious renovation. Since 1944, it offers high culture entertainment not only to the residents of Białystok but also to everyone living in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. For improved viewer comfort and to make work easier for actors, the Theatre will soon be modernised. This includes installing state-of-the-art solutions to make art even more appealing.

GFLI provides nearly 50% of funding for the Drama Theatre’s renovation

The Drama Theatre in Białystok has been serving the city residents for nearly 80 years. Early this year, a tender was announced to modernise its facilities. The estimated value of the renovation project is PLN 58 million. Nearly 50% of the funding needed to renovate the Theatre – as much as PLN 26 million – is provided under the Government Fund for Local Investments. The remaining funding comes from the Podlaskie Voivodeship budget. The building’s renovation plan assumes that the works will take place between 2021 and 2023. The entire investment project is included in the long-term financial forecast as well.

The renovation project will combine modern technological solutions with conservation requirements for the Theatre’s historic building. By introducing state-of-the-art stage mechanics solutions, the performances offered by the Theatre are bound to become even more attractive to viewers. Another planned improvement is new seating for the audience.

The body of the Theatre building will be reconstructed and expanded. The interiors will be refurbished, and the exterior will be insulated. The replacement of internal systems is planned as well; this includes water, sewage and heating, electrical, telecommunication, mechanical ventilation, air-conditioning, as well as joinery and ironwork. The area around the building will also be developed.

“I am glad that the Polish state will grant Białystok PLN 26 million for the renovation of the Drama Theatre”, Prime Minister Morawiecki emphasized. “I would like to thank everyone who made efforts for Białystok to receive state funding. Including that for numerous roads, provided under the Government Local Programme. This is our philosophy – to help places such as this one and create thousands of jobs”, he added.

GFLI – non-repayable financial support from the COVID-19 Prevention Fund

The Government Fund for Local Investments is a programme aimed at supporting communes, counties and cities all over Poland. The government funding is non-repayable and is provided under the COVID-19 Prevention Fund. All funding granted can be used for investment projects intended to make life better for the local communities. Numerous investment projects under the GFLI are planned across Poland, including nursery, kindergarten and road construction projects.

The support of local governments makes it possible to implement further modernisation plans. Communes no longer have to go into debt. With local initiatives providing as much as 40% of funding, supporting them helps boost the entire country’s development. Stimulation of small and medium enterprises is also planned to allow them to carry out works commissioned by local governments.