Ghosts in the Ruins

“Ghosts in the Ruins” is an evening tour of the ruins of the Victoria Theatre in Gliwice, combined with short theatrical scenes. Participants will uncover the secrets of the former cultural and entertainment complex, learning about the building’s history from the 19th century to the present day. Actors will take on the roles of figures associated with the site and the city, and the walk will combine a historical narrative with a theatrical guided tour within the authentic setting of the Ruins. 

Venue:

The ruins of the Victoria Theatre in Gliwice are all that remains of the former municipal theatre from the late 19th century. The complex served various purposes – it housed a theatre, a café, a hotel, baths, a music school, and in later years, among other things, a car showroom. Destroyed during the Second World War, the building remained abandoned for years, before becoming a venue for cultural events again from the 1990s onwards. Today, the Ruins are one of the most distinctive and recognisable landmarks in Gliwice.

Date: 26 June 2026

Time: 6.00–7.00 pm | 7.30–8.30 pm | 9.00–10.00 pm

Tour: ‘Ghosts in the Ruins’ is an evening tour of the Victoria Theatre Ruins combined with short theatrical scenes.

Starting point: The ruins of the Victoria Theatre, 18 Aleja Przyjaźni, Gliwice

Guide:

Kamil Iwanicki — a Silesianist, city guide and promoter of knowledge about the region, associated with the Victoria Cultural Centre, author of the “Familoki” project, “Gliwice Map of Secrets” and books on the heritage of Upper Silesia, in which he recounts the history of workers’ housing estates, remembrance and the region’s transformations.

The Trajektoria Theatre is an experimental performance theatre based in Katowice, combining physical theatre, live music and improvisation, created by artists from Upper Silesia who are exploring new forms of theatrical expression.

Further information:

Due to the nature of the ruins (uneven ground, steps), the tour may be difficult for people with mobility impairments. Suitable for seniors and young people aged 10 and over. Stroboscopic lights will be used during the event.  

Booking: All places are fully booked.

One of the most interesting and distinctive vocalists on the Polish jazz scene returns with her latest project, “Ja tu tylko śpiewam” – a concert based on new material from her latest album, released in 2025 by SJRecords. This is a unique opportunity to hear this repertoire live in its energetic concert setting. “Ja tu tylko śpiewam” is a musical story with many shades – from the subtle and lyrical to the groovy and expressive. Jazz roots intertwine here with blues, soul, R&B, funk and Latin influences, creating a cohesive, modern and highly communicative whole. Beata Przybytek’s original compositions were written to lyrics by outstanding wordsmiths such as Andrzej Poniedzielski, Jan Wołek, Grzegorz Wasowski, Wojciech Byrski and Dariusz Dusza. This gives the concert an extra dimension – it is not just music, but also a story in which words and sound are equal protagonists. The programme will include, among others, the piece ‘Trzy zmiany’ (Three Changes), which won the Grand Prix at the ‘Kryształowy Kamerton’ Festival. Beata Przybytek is an artist with a unique stage presence and a distinctive, deep voice – low, expressive and incredibly evocative. A winner of numerous awards, she was recently honoured in the Jazz Forum magazine readers’ poll JAZZ TOP 2025, where she took second place in the Jazz Vocalist of the Year category. For years she has been delighting audiences in Poland and abroad, collaborating with the most outstanding jazz musicians. The concert in the extraordinary setting of the Ruins of the Victoria Theatre in Gliwice will lend this event a unique atmosphere – the industrial, historic scenery will meet music full of emotion, subtlety and artistic class.

• Beata Przybytek – vocals
• Andrzej Gondek – guitar
• Bogusław Kaczmar – keyboards
• Adam Kowalewski – bass
• Tomasz Machański – drums

This concert promotes the new album and is also an invitation to all those who seek authenticity, emotion and the highest standard of performance in music. An evening that moves the soul and lingers in the memory for a long time.

Tickets cost 88 zł until 6 June or while the first batch lasts. After that, they cost 108 zł.

The concert is organised by the Śląski Jazz Club Music Association in collaboration with CK Victoria and the City of Gliwice.

In the atmospheric setting of the ruins of the burnt-down “Victoria” theatre in Gliwice, veterans of the hip-hop scene will be performing for you. Skorup from Live Bandziors will be giving a premiere concert featuring tracks from their album “Stare bóle”. Okoliczny Element, Jacanabicie and Proceente from Łysonżim are also releasing or have released new albums this year, and tracks from these will be played alongside older, tried-and-tested classics. You simply can’t miss it – a hip-hop feast in the extraordinary setting of the burnt-out theatre ruins is a premium event!

WHEN? 27 JUNE, 6.30 pm–10.00 pm

TICKETS from 65.99 PLN: https://goingapp.pl/wydarzenie/koncert-w-ruinach-teatru-victoria/gliwice-czerwiec-2026?queryID=0844f9457f7a459f70890addd20489f3&fbclid;=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExaThnZXVRdVpBa2xGOFQzanNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5d2T-R5NTvGLPxzlwpC1vIZL_pqW9swXfXTxDu7JFHnRIuRMoR-3iU7eLp_Q_aem_JHau9xIv2Ixjyl2gZ8p1Kg

The performances will take place on 14 and 15 June 2026. The audience will be treated to an energetic story about youth, the need for freedom, courage and the power of community. “Footloose” has been attracting audiences for years with its dynamic
music, recognisable title and a story about a generation that wants to speak with its own voice. Gliwice holds a special place in the history of this musical. It was here that the European premiere of the show took place at the Gliwice Musical Theatre. After 24 years, “Footloose” returns to the city in a new, youth-oriented production, prepared by the “Wit-Wit” Musical Theatre. The production is being staged as a licensed amateur production under rights granted by Concord Theatricals Ltd. However, the main focus of the communication remains the show’s return to Gliwice and the local, youth-oriented dimension of the event.

Dates
• 14 June 2026, 6.00 pm
• 15 June 2026, 11.00 am
• 15 June 2026, 6.00 pm

Tickets

Tickets cost 40 zł: footloose.wit-wit.pl

The production is being staged by experienced professionals from the Wit-Wit Musical Theatre, who are working alongside young artists from the Wit-Wit Theatre’s Acting Studio to create the musical *Footloose*.

Producers:

Directed by	Ewa Witomska, Stanisław Witomski
Choreography	Dagmara Kaliciak
Vocal coaching	Alicja Witomska
Vocal training	Justyna Jarząbek

About the project
The project is being carried out as part of the ‘Made in Gliwice’ and ‘Musicalove Gliwice – Youth Musical Academy’ initiatives, in collaboration with the City of Gliwice and the Victoria Cultural Centre in Gliwice.

One actor. Eight characters. A guitar, a saw, a camera, an audience and AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’.

Peadar de Búrca takes the audience on an intense, hour-long journey through the key themes of “Hamlet”. Shakespeare’s classic drama is performed here in the original Shakespearean English, yet in a form that is accessible to Polish audiences familiar with the modern language. This is not a traditional play – it is a theatrical experience.

This production of “Hamlet” is dynamic, compact and full of emotion. It remains clear, occasionally surprises with its humour, yet never loses its dramatic power.

I’ve seen many live productions – McKellen’s timeless take, Cumberbatch’s ‘sweet prince’, Sam Wanamaker’s irreverent version at the Globe – the key is not to strive for some unattainable definitive version, but to make a 400-year-old play relevant to a modern audience. “In this version, there will be laughter and there will be tears, and only brave or aspiring actors should sit in the front row, because I guarantee it will be an unforgettable hour of your life, says de Búrca.

Only one actor appears on stage, yet he is able to switch between several characters at once. This is why the audience plays such a vital role; just as in Elizabethan theatre, they become part of the action and help to create the atmosphere of the performance – they speak up and contribute to the plot. Everything happens quickly here: the action never slows down, the tension keeps building, and the music carries the story from the first scene to the last.

The musical element plays a special role in this production, as it primarily sets the rhythm, heightens the emotions and ties the whole performance together.

Hamlet is a tragedy. It is often a comedy, too. It is a play about acting. It is a revenge drama, a crime story, a tale that celebrates both the glory of humanity and its utter insignificance – notes Peadar de Búrca. – In this version, there will be laughter and there will be tears. And whoever sits in the front row will surely never forget that hour for the rest of their life – adds the author.

The performance will be accompanied by live music performed by Paweł Gosek.

“Hamlet” – a performance in English, with no translation. Admission is free, but places are limited.

Gliwice Film Fest 2026 kicks off on 18 May. Renowned experts will be visiting Gliwice!

We are delighted to announce the launch of Gliwice Film Fest 2026 – a unique film festival aimed at secondary school pupils in Gliwice.

“This year, a record number of teams – as many as 18 – have signed up for the Festival, which is almost twice as many as we had planned to accept. This demonstrates the huge appetite for knowledge and the need to develop digital and creative skills among young people in Gliwice. Our Festival offers a huge dose of inspiration and education, as well as a space for creative expression.  The art of filmmaking is an interdisciplinary field combining a full range of skills. It is education through gamification, as well as an impetus for building careers and a shared identity,” says Bartek Bala, creative producer and director, one of the founders of Gliwice Film Fest.

As part of the Festival, participants will take part in professional film workshops led by experienced filmmakers. They will have the chance to learn the basics of directing, screenwriting, working with the camera and actors, as well as post-production. The culmination will be the creation of a short film (up to 5 minutes), which must include a reference to Gliwice – a city that is becoming a film set for young filmmakers.

Well-known experts have confirmed their participation as workshop leaders, including Roma Gąsiorowska – an award-winning actress and founder of the W-arte acting school! The festival will be opened by Miłosz Brzeziński – a psychologist and mental coach who will inspire young artists with a talk on courage, a quality so essential in today’s world.

An attractive grand prize awaits the winners – a fully funded trip to the 51st Polish Feature Film Festival in Gdynia.

The film workshops will take place from 18 to 22 May. Filming will take place from 23 to 30 May. The closing ceremony and film screening will be held on 1 June at the Victoria Theatre Ruins.

For more information, visit https://festiwal.filminkubator.com

The festival is organised by the FILM Inkubator Foundation. It is held under the patronage of Katarzyna Kuczyńska-Budka, Mayor of Gliwice, and is funded from the City of Gliwice’s budget. The competition is co-organised by the Victoria Cultural Centre in Gliwice.

Main partner: HOLE Films Creative Film Agency

Partners: verocargo, Studio Munka, Kijora, the Pomeranian Film Foundation, the Polish Feature Film Festival

Two music legends will take to the stage at Ruiny Teatru Victoria – Spięty (1 May) and Lech Janerka (3 May). As usual, we’ll kick off May with a dance – on 2 May, it’s Silent Disco. But that’s not all – the May weekend will also be a chance to revisit childhood memories. Aleja Przyjaźni will take us back to the playground. Skipping ropes, hopscotch, elastic, bottle caps – if these words mean anything to you, it means you’re ready for chalk-stained hands and scraped knees.

1 and 2 May, 4.00 pm – 7.00 pm | RETRO BACKYARD GAMES 

We’ll swap hanging out on the clothesline for sitting on the steps, where you can catch a chill. We’re going back to the days when we’d sit in the yard until dusk, playing marbles, bottle caps, elastic, skipping, hopscotch, tag and more! Older generations will surely remember what it was like, so let’s share the joy of these games with the younger ones.

1 May, 7.00 pm | SPIĘTY – concert

Spięty – otherwise known as Hubert Dobaczewski – is a guitarist, singer and songwriter known for his many years of performing with the band LAO CHE, as well as for his solo work. He is the author of the albums *Antyszanty*, *Black Mental* and *Heartcore*. The album “Heartcore” was nominated for a Fryderyk Award in 2023 in the Alternative Music category. In 2025, Spięty was honoured with the Ambassador of the Polish Language in Writing award, presented by the Polish Language Council. The single promoting the album, “Blue”, remained at number one on the RADIO 357 chart for 21 consecutive weeks, spending over 90 weeks in the top ten. In the spring of 2026, his new album, “Full H.D.”, was released. The artist performs with the following line-up: Spięty (vocals, guitar), Bartek Kapsa (drums, sampler), Emil Wojtczak (bass), Patryk Kraśniewski (keyboards).

2 May, 7.00 pm – midnight | SILENT DISCO 

Admission: 30 PLN, payable on the door | Limited seating available | To hire headphones, you will need to show proof of identity and sign a declaration.

The Silent Disco at the Theatre Ruins is a much-anticipated highlight of the May Day celebrations. The music flows through three-channel headphones, and it’s up to the participants to decide what tunes they want to dance to. Three DJs will be playing simultaneously (DJ 5cet, DJ P33, DJ Winylowe Historie), each responsible for a different style – retro, electro and clubbing. Standing on the sidelines, you’ll see people dancing, but you won’t hear the music.

3 May, 6.00 pm | LECH JANERKA – concert 

An icon of Polish alternative music, the creator of hits such as “Strzeż się tych miejsc”, “Jezu jak się cieszę” and “Paragwaj”. Although he is now 70, he continues to delight audiences with his witty lyrics and keen observations of reality. The artist will perform his greatest hits as well as material from his latest album, “Gipsowy odlew falsyfikatu”, which saw the light of day after 18 years of silence. The material is as long-awaited as it is excellent, so it’s no surprise that it featured prominently in the year-end round-ups – including first place in the 2023 Polish albums chart by “Gazeta Wyborcza”, “Polityka” and “Onet”, picking up five Fryderyk Awards along the way, including for “Album of the Year” and “Song of the Year”. Janerka rarely performs live, as he only creates and performs when he feels the need to and has something important to say. Thanks to his uncompromising approach, after more than four decades on stage, he is a living rock legend.

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Organiser: Victoria Cultural Centre, a local government cultural institution of the City of Gliwice | Partner: Silesian Metropolitan Network

TAURON is the title sponsor of the event.

The event is being organised as part of the TAURON Gliwicka Energia Kultury project.