Fundacja Warsaw Drama Company

ABOUT

Formally established as a foundation in 2026, Warsaw Drama Company's journey began in 2025 with the English-language staging of Adam Mickiewicz’s 'Dziady' (Forefathers' Eve). Today, we bridge cultures by bringing Polish heritage to life for Warsaw's diverse, international community.

Arkadiusz Ziętek

President of the Board & Executive Director

Arkadiusz Ziętek is a Lublin-born theatre director, writer and trainer who works with cultural institutions in Poland and abroad. For many years he was artistic director of Interkunst e.V. in Berlin, where he directed international productions bringing together actors, musicians, dancers and new circus artists. His work centres on interactivity, spontaneity and social change.

He has learned from leading practitioners of Improvisational Theatre, Theatre of the Oppressed, Method Acting and Community Theatre, and holds postgraduate qualifications in directing from the Academy of Theatre in Wrocław and in training and coaching for personal development from Collegium Civitas. In 2007 he led one of the first improv theatre workshops in Poland. He continues to direct, teaches actors, young people and adults, and trains educators and cultural workers.

Alisa Vapniarskaya

Co-Founder, Board Member, Actress | Audiovisual Artist & Organizer

Ilya Baranouski

Co-Founder, Board Member, Actor | Legal Affairs & Technical Operations

Ji Yoon Kang

Council Member, Actress | Stage & Props Designer

Santiago Arca

Council Member, Actor | Improv Coordinator & Public Relations

Azim Azad

Actor | Venue Relations & Advertising

Sheetal Dhakal

Special Guest, Actress | Improv Performer

CALENDAR

11 OCT 2026

Polish Characters Upcoming

Sunday, 11 October 2026, 18:00

Language: English

Original Concept & Direction by Arkadiusz Ziętek

Venue: Dom Kultury „Zacisze”

Polish Characters is a theatrical performance by Warsaw Drama Company aiming to introduce English-speaking audiences to classic Polish literature, engaging them through the monologues of its most memorable characters, contemporary interpretations, humor, and improvisation.

The audience will not only experience four distinct stories, but will also be invited to participate in exploring them. Due to this concept, no two shows are ever the same - each performance is uniquely shaped by the synergy between the actors and the audience. Embracing a work-in-progress format, the event offers a rare opportunity to peek "behind the scenes" of the creative process and directly influence the project's ongoing journey.

Polish Characters:

▫️ Azim Azad as Flea - "Antigone in New York" by Janusz Głowacki
▫️ Ilya Baranouski as Jasiek - "Wesele" by Stanisław Wyspiański
▫️ Alisa Vapniarskaya as Balladyna - "Balladyna" by Juliusz Słowacki

With:

▫️ Arkadiusz Ziętek as Guide

Special Guest:

▫️ Sheetal Dhakal as Matka - "Matka" by Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz

We express our special gratitude to the “ZACISZE” Cultural Center for the support and help in organizing the event!

Upcoming

Certificates of Attendance provided

Further details to be announced.

Upcoming

Dziady part 2 by Adam Mickiewicz

Further details to be announced.

16 JUN 2026

Polish Characters (Work-In-Progress Presentation) Past Event

Tuesday, 16 June 2026, 19:30

Language: English

Original Concept & Direction by Arkadiusz Ziętek

Venue: Akademia Sztuki i Kultury
al. Jana Pawła II 36c
00-141 Warszawa

Polish Characters is a theatrical performance by Warsaw Drama Company aiming to introduce English-speaking audiences to classic Polish literature, engaging them through the monologues of its most memorable characters, contemporary interpretations, humor, and improvisation.

The audience will not only experience four distinct stories, but will also be invited to participate in exploring them. Due to this concept, no two shows are ever the same - each performance is uniquely shaped by the synergy between the actors and the audience. Embracing a work-in-progress format, the event offers a rare opportunity to peek "behind the scenes" of the creative process and directly influence the project's ongoing journey.

Polish Characters:

▫️ Azim Azad as Flea - "Antigone in New York" by Janusz Głowacki
▫️ Ilya Baranouski as Jasiek - "Wesele" by Stanisław Wyspiański
▫️ Alisa Vapniarskaya as Balladyna - "Balladyna" by Juliusz Słowacki
▫️ Ji Yoon Kang as Margaret - "Yvonne, Princess of Burgundy" by Witold Gombrowicz

With:

▫️ Arkadiusz Ziętek as Guide

We express our special gratitude to Akademia Sztuki i Kultury, Warsztaty Teatralne and Piotr Filonowicz for the support and help in organizing the event!

26 APR 2026

Polish Characters Premiere

Sunday, 26 April 2026, 19:00

Language: English

Original Concept & Direction by Arkadiusz Ziętek

Venue: Academia Realizacji Dźwięku
Magazyn Sztuki
Grochowska 23/31, Warsaw

Polish Characters is a theatrical performance by Warsaw Drama Company aiming to introduce English-speaking audiences to classic Polish literature, engaging them through the monologues of its most memorable characters, contemporary interpretations, humor, and improvisation.

The audience will not only experience four distinct stories, but will also be invited to participate in exploring them. Due to this concept, no two shows are ever the same - each performance is uniquely shaped by the synergy between the actors and the audience. Embracing a work-in-progress format, the event offers a rare opportunity to peek "behind the scenes" of the creative process and directly influence the project's ongoing journey.

Polish Characters:

▫️ Azim Azad as Flea - "Antigone in New York" by Janusz Głowacki
▫️ Ilya Baranouski as Jasiek - "Wesele" by Stanisław Wyspiański
▫️ Alisa Vapniarskaya as Balladyna - "Balladyna" by Juliusz Słowacki
▫️ Ji Yoon Kang as Margaret - "Yvonne, Princess of Burgundy" by Witold Gombrowicz

With:

▫️ Arkadiusz Ziętek as Guide

Special Guest:

▫️ Sheetal Dhakal as Matka - "Matka" by Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz

We express our special gratitude to Academia Realizacji Dźwięku, Magazyn Sztuki and Piotr Wolski for the support and help in organizing the event!

30 NOV 2025

Dziady part 2 by Adam Mickiewicz Premiere

Sunday, 30 November 2025, 14:00

Language: English

Original Concept & Direction by Arkadiusz Ziętek

Venue: Karina Sport (Pole, Exotic & Aerial Sport Studio)
Grochowska 23/31, Warszawa

We proudly present a stage reading performance of Adam Mickiewicz’s legendary work Dziady - A preview of what’s coming in next year’s full performance bringing Polish literature to the stage in a fresh and powerful way. Dziady II — an endless ritual, carried through the years.

Cast:

▫️ Arkadiusz Ziętek as Silent Ghost
▫️ Alisa Vapniarskaya as Maiden / Owl / Chorus
▫️ Azim Azad as Guślarz / Chorus
▫️ Ilya Baranouski as Raven 1 / Raven 2 / Chorus
▫️ Ji Yoon Kang as Guślarz / Little Angels / Chorus
▫️ Luís Lobão as Evil Landlord / Old Man / Chorus

We express our special gratitude to Karina Sport for the support and help in organizing the event!

COLLABORATION

Our Mission & Goals

Polish Heritage & Seamless Integration
Bridging cultures through shared artistic experiences. We explore Poland's rich history and national identity, helping international communities authentically integrate into society via interactive theatre and events.
The Intercultural Stage
A vibrant platform where Warsaw's local spirit meets European values. We host performances, festivals, and cultural exchanges that showcase an open and collaborative artistic environment.
Sustainable "Green Theatre"
Eco-friendly cultural production driven by community joy. We craft our own costumes and props, turning zero-waste practices and upcycling into a fun, hands-on creative process.
Tech & Art Innovation
Pushing boundaries by integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and immersive tools (VR/AR) into our theatrical and educational initiatives, fostering critical thinking and new formats.
Empowering Artistic Education
Elevating skills and well-being. We host regular acting workshops, improv training, and share our technical resources and creative spaces with emerging artists and NGOs.

Open Call & Partnerships

Whether you are a cultural institution, a visionary director, an actor looking for an ensemble, or a patron supporting independent art — we want to hear from you. Propose a project, join our workshops, or support our upcoming stages.

MEDIA

Dziady Part II: Staged Reading

Directed by Arkadiusz Ziętek

Dziady, Part II is a classic Polish drama written by Adam Mickiewicz.

The story is built around a secret ritual held at night on Forefathers' Eve. Wandering souls are stuck between worlds and cannot find peace. The villagers must listen to their dark stories and find out what is keeping them from moving on.

Brought to life by an international cast, the performance is presented as a staged reading. The real magic happens when you realize you have completely stopped noticing the scripts in the hands of the performers.

Soundtrack is created by Alisa Vapniarskaya

Polish Characters

Polish Characters is a theatrical performance by Warsaw Drama Company aiming to introduce English-speaking audiences to classic Polish literature, engaging them through the monologues of its most memorable characters, contemporary interpretations, humor, and improvisation.

The audience will not only experience four distinct stories, but will also be invited to participate in exploring them. Due to this concept, no two shows are ever the same - each performance is uniquely shaped by the synergy between the actors and the audience. Embracing a work-in-progress format, the event offers a rare opportunity to peek "behind the scenes" of the creative process and directly influence the project's ongoing journey.