Stages of transition

Teatr Polska is a project organized by the Theater Institute in Warsaw, its aim is to facilitate access to the best theatrical performances of Polish theaters for residents of towns where there is no institutional theater.

The journey with Teatr Polska was more than just an encounter with art. It was a journey back in time—to places where the spirit of communism still lingers in the architecture, spaces, and atmosphere. Small towns with gray apartment blocks, abandoned milk bars, and rusted signs reminded me of my childhood, when such sights were part of everyday life. Today, alongside these remnants of a bygone era, modern buildings are rising, creating a stark contrast between the past and the present.

Each place I visited told its own story—of stagnation, but also of gradual change. Crumbling government offices, empty playgrounds where several generations once played, and old neon shop signs from the communist era now stand side by side with colorful supermarkets and sleek new apartments. These scenes served as a reminder of how impoverished Poland still is, but also of how much it is transforming.