Gallery of directors

Jacek Gruca – managing director and art director in 1975-1981

Jacek Gruca (8.08.1940 – 22.05.2011) graduated from the Faculty of Acting, National Academy of Theatre Arts in Cracow (1965), and then from the Faculty of Directing, National Academy of Theatre Arts in Warsaw (1971) Actor and director. By the end of 60’s he performed in Polish Theatre in Poznan and Contemporary Theatre in Warsaw. From 70 ‘s he directed in the following theatres throughout Poland: Polish Theatre in Bydgoszcz, Jaracz Theatre in Olsztyn and Drama Theatre in Elbląg, the latter of which he was the CEO and Art Director in 1975-81 (on March 27th, 1976 on International Theatre Day there was the premiere performance of “Damy i Huzary” by Aleksander Fredro, directed by Jacek Gruca).

Andrzej May – managing director and art director in 1981-1984

Andrzej May (3.03.1934 – 7.12.1993) Polish film and stage actor, director, Managing Director and Art Director of Polish theatres (in Drama Theatre in Elbląg and in Szczecin as a Managing Director and Art Director of Polish Theatre since 1983). Andrzej May directed in Elbląg Theatre i.a. “Ja, Polak Beznadziejny” by Jan Lechoń, “W małym dworku” by S.I. Witkiewicz, “Egzamin” by J. P. Gawlik.

Stanisław Tym – managing director and art director in 1984-1986

Stanisław Tym (born July 17th, 1937 in Małkinia Górna) – Polish satirist, actor, playwright, director and columnist. In 1950s he studied in Warsaw i.a. Chemistry at Warsaw University of Technology, Processing at Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, and at the Faculty of Acting, PWST National Academy of Theatre Arts. During studies he wrote various texts and performed in student cabarets. In 1960-1972 he was an actor, author and director of the STS Warsaw Theatre and Owca (Sheep) Cabaret. Stanislaw Tym directed in Elbląg Theatre i.a. “Królewna Śnieżka” (Snow White) by J. Rakoziecki and J. Wittin, “Rozmowy przy wycinaniu lasu” by himself, “Zielony dym”, “Kapelusz”.

Jerzy Sopoćko – managing director and art director in 1986-1990.

Jerzy Sopoćko – actor and theatrical director. In 1950-51 he performed in Wybrzeże Theatre in Gdańsk. After graduating, until 1964 he performed in Old Theatre in Cracow, and from 1965 to 1974 he was an actor and director in Folk Theatre in Nowa Huta. In 1975 he was a director in Żeromski Theatre in Kielce, in 1976-78 in Drama Theatre in Gdynia, in 1979 – in Polish Theatre in Bielsko-Biała and Ziemi Pomorskiej Theatre in Grudziądz. In 1995-97 he was the CEO and art director in Solski Theatre in Tarnów. Jerzy Sopoćko directed in Elbląg Theatre i.a. “Wariat i zakonnica” by S. I. Witkiewicz, “Uciekła mi przepióreczka” by S. Żeromski, “Kontrakt” by S. Mrożek.

Henryk Majcherek – managing director and art director in 1990-1991

Henryk Majcherek (born November 22nd, 1934) – Polish actor. In 1961 he graduated from the Faculty of Acting, PWSTiF in Łódź. As a theatrical actor he debuted on December 2nd, 1961 in Teatr Powszechny in Łódź. He also performed in Wilam Horzyca Theatre in Toruń, J. Słowacki Baltic Drama Theatre in Koszalin and Słupsk, Polish Theatre in Bydgoszcz, Contemporary Theatre and Polish Theatre in Szczecin and H. Modrzejewska Old Theatre in Cracow, Polish Theatre in Bielsko-Biała and in Wrocław Edmund Wierciński Contemporary Theatre.

Hilary Kurpanik – managing director and art director in 1992-1994

Hilary Kurpanik – (31.07.1938 –18.02.2000) actor. He performed in Fredro Theatre in Gniezno, Lubuski Theatre in Zielona Góra and Baltic Theatre in Koszalin. In 1975-83 he was the artistic manager of Estrada in Zielona Góra, Słowacki Theatre in Cracow, Osterwa Theatre in Gorzów. In 1983-86 he was the CEO and Art Director of Lubuski Theatre in Zielona Góra. In 1995-96 he performed in Osterwa Theatre in Gorzów Wielkopolski. From 1996 until his death, he was an actor in Contemporary Theatre in Wrocław. Hilary Kurpanik directed in Elbląg Theatre i.a. A man sitting at the road – recital of Lesław Ostaszkiewicz, Guinol in trouble of Leon Moszczyński and Jan Wilkowski.

Józef Jasielski – managing director and art director in 1995-1997

Józef Jasielski (born 01.01.1944) – a sociologist, director, stage designer, theatre director, playwright, translator-adapter, theatre critic, university lecturer, journalist. He began his stage career at the National Theatre in Warsaw as a director’s assistant, where he worked until 1971. He was a director in J. Osterwa Theatre in Lublin, W. Bogusławski Theatre in Kalisz and in J. Tuwim Theatre in Łódź. In Drama Theatre in Legnica he worked as a director, CEO and Art Director. In 1990 – 1993 he did lectures in Knowledge about theatre at M. Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. As a guest, he worked in theatres in Elbląg, Gniezno, Kalisz and Łódź. From 1997 he worked as a director in A. Fredro Theatre in Gniezno. Jerzy Jasielski directed in Elbląg Theatre i.a. Molière’s “Don Juan”, J. Słowacki’s “Balladyna” and A. Mickiewicz’s “Pan Tadeusz”.

Jerzy Michalak – managing director and art director in 1997-1998

Jerzy Michalak (born 3.12.1943) – stage designer, director, painter. He graduated from Art High School in Katowice and after that he continued his education at the Department of Scenography, Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow (1969). He began working as a stage designer in 1969 in Drama Theatre in Tarnów. In 1973-1986 he prepared scenography in the TV Theatre and at the same time he was the Director of “Pinocchio” Puppet Theatre in Łódź. In 1982-1983 he worked as a stage designer in Płock Theatre and from 1983 he worked in Rozmaitości Theatre in Warsaw and Rampa Theatre in Warsaw and Częstochowa. As a stage designer he cooperated with many theatres in Poland and abroad, e.g. in Hungary, Yugoslavia and Russia.

Dariusz Barton – managing director and art director in 1998-2003.

Dariusz Barton (born 21.04.1958) was associated with Elbląg Theatre from 1997 – he was the chief organisational and technical expert, Director and CEO of the Theatre (from 1998 to 2003). In 2009 he began working as a preservationist in Malbork and in 2013 – in Elbląg. Author of numerous papers in scientific research and popular science. In 2016 Dariusz Barton was appointed by the voivod of Warmia and Mazury as Provincial Preservationist.

Mirosław Siedler – managing director and art director from 2003

Mirosław Siedler (born 02.01.1961) – theatrical and film actor, director. In 1983 he graduated from the Faculty of Acting, National Film School in Łódź. He worked in the New Theatre, Powszechny Theatre and Stefan Jaracz Theatre. In 2007 he was awarded bronze medal for “Merit to Culture Gloria Artis” and in 2014 he was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit. Mirosław Siedler directed in Elbląg Theatre i.a. Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, J. Komorowski’s “Jak piekarczyk chwat Elbląg uratował”, B. Schaeffer’s “Actor” and “Anne of Green Gables” by L. M. Montgomery.