In the seat of the Drama Theatre im. Aleksandra Węgierki in Białystok, intensive renovation works are underway. The modernization of the institution is one of the most important investments of the Podlaskie Voivodeship in the field of culture in recent years.
The seat of the Białystok theatre was built in 1938 and then rebuilt in 1948 after war damage. Since then, the building has never been comprehensively renovated. Last year, this became possible thanks to the financial support that the voivodeship authorities obtained from the Government Local Investment Fund, as well as from the Polish Deal program.
In accordance with the promises made during the election campaign, we are modernizing Podlasie cultural institutions. For the renovation and equipment of one of the most important of them – the Drama Theatre in Białystok – as the local government of the province, we obtained a huge subsidy from government funds – a total of PLN 51 million. Let me remind you that the cost of the entire investment is PLN 58 million. The remaining amount will be financed from the voivodeship budget,” emphasizes Artur Kosicki, Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship.
Budimex SA, which won the tender for the implementation of this investment last year, is responsible for the modernization of the Drama Theatre.
– We started demolition works in July 2021. We have dismantled electrical, teletechnical, sanitary installations, elements of theatrical equipment, lifting equipment; The ceiling of the main stage, the chamber stage, partition walls, ceilings were demolished; The foundations were reinforced using the jet-grouting method, foundation works, part of the partition walls and insulation of the foundations of the facility – says Piotr Doroszko – Contract Director of Budimex SA.
Work not previously foreseen in the project is also underway.
– In order to avoid the risk related to the safety of the structure, the ceiling above the main stage and the auditorium casing are being redesigned. The construction of monolithic reinforced concrete structures for the foundation of the main stage is also underway. Masonry and installation works in the electrical, teletechnical and sanitary areas are underway. Work is underway to prepare for the replacement of the roof sheathing and external window joinery – adds Piotr Doroszko – Contract Director at Budimex SA.
The project of modernization of the Theatre was created by the “KOZIEŃ Architekci” studio from Krakow. The planned completion date of the investment is the end of April 2023.
– Renovation works are in full swing. We hope that the investment will be completed according to the schedule. Both artists and spectators are very much waiting for the return of our theatrical activity to the stage at Elektryczna Street as soon as possible,” said Piotr Półtorak, Director of the Dramatic Theatre.
In the second quarter of this year. The Marshal’s Office of the Podlaskie Voivodeship intends to announce a tender for the supply of equipment for the Drama Theatre, including stage design. As part of the modernization, modern solutions in the field of stage technology, lighting and electroacoustics are planned. The total value of the investment was estimated at PLN 58,000,000 . It is already known that this amount will be increased due to the acquisition of additional funds from the Polish Deal program.
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The building of the Drama Theatre im. Aleksandra Węgierki in Białystok is located in the center of the city’s urban layout. The seat of the institution was built in 1938 as the Municipal Theatre. Marshal Józef Piłsudski. On December 27, 1938, its ceremonial opening took place. The Provincial Travelling Theatre performed on the new stage, and Eugeniusz Bodo, Mira Zimińska and Hanka Ordonówna also visited the theatre. In 1940, the Theatre was joined by an outstanding director and actor – Aleksander Węgierko, who created a collection of approx. 140 people team. In 1941, the outbreak of war between Germany and the USSR found the Theatre in Minsk. The band reached Brest, where it eventually disbanded, and Aleksander Węgierko himself died in unexplained circumstances. During the bombing of Białystok in 1941, all the decorations and costumes burned down.
In 1944, the Theatre resumed its activity, where it played on the stage of the pre-war “Świat” Cinema (now the “Ton” Cinema). It was then that an acting team was formed, consisting of outstanding artists from Warsaw and Krakow who stayed in Białystok, such as m.in. Jan Świderski, Czesław Wołejko, Halina Kossobudzka, Lidia Zamkowa, who were joined by Polish actors from Białystok. The first director of the Theatre was Marian Meller. The first premiere was staged on September 22, 1944. It was the play “My Quail Has Escaped” by Stefan Żeromski. In the same year, the retreating German troops carried out systematic arson and blowing up buildings. The Theatre building was also damaged during a fire and was unusable.
The first performance in the rebuilt headquarters at ul. Elektrica was staged on September 23, 1948. It was “Tartuffe” directed by Stanisław Daczyński, with stage design by Otto Axer. This event was extremely important in the history of the Theatre, because the new season began in the building where theatrical life continues uninterruptedly to this day.
