What can we expect from this year’s “Dziecinada”?

“This year we’re looking at our world – both internal and external – through a theatrical lens, in search of new meanings and inspirations. We’re not inviting audiences to escape reality through theatre, but rather to come closer to it. So that the everyday and seemingly obvious might amaze us again, and that routine and boredom might suddenly become magical. The shows invited to this year’s edition bring a rich variety of stories and theatrical forms – with character, heart, big questions, sometimes a bit of weirdness and edge. We’ll see stories of loneliness and inner struggles, but also explosions of joy, acrobatic bravado, and childlike freedom. Expect puppet theatre, physical theatre, circus performances, storytelling theatre, musical theatre, shadow theatre, large-scale outdoor spectacles, and improvised performances. There will be shows that don’t need words to move audiences, as well as those for the very youngest, based on touch, sound, and closeness. This is theatre not ‘for’ children, but with children. We’re also planning a royal-style outdoor day!”, says Wiktoria Wiktorczyk, the festival’s artistic director.

This year’s edition will bring us closer to nature – that quiet companion whose presence we often forget. We’ll howl at the moon in the poetic performance Luna, connect with the four elements in “The Musical Circle”, and sing of nature’s beauty in “LaLiLU” with BLUM Theatre Studio. Guliwer Puppet Theatre will explore the Earth and its micro-worlds in “Kingdoms”, and the audience-favorite Meneer Monster will present “The Big Five” – a musical adventure through African wildlife.

Another key theme of this year’s program is mindful connection – with ourselves, others, and the world. Many performances explore curiosity, shifting perspectives, and empathy. These stories are full of brave seekers, outsiders, fearless explorers, and those willing to try again. Norway’s “Fritt Fram” examines play, cooperation, and the balance between following rules and creating your own. Similarly, “Kingdoms” reflects on diversity through the experiences of actors with Down syndrome. “The Vikings from North Street” is a dynamic, funny tale about finding strength in self-belief. “Second Chances”, a show from Italy and Spain, invites reflection on perseverance and dreams. The Belgian pantomime-slapstick piece “On the road” (“De Passant”) invites audiences to explore their place in the group and the world. And the Dutch company Het Filiaal’s award-winning “Miss Ophelia” will bravely confront life’s darker sides.

Some events defy all definitions. “Double You” by Belgium’s Be Flat collective is a theatrical experiment on boundaries and identity, where two simultaneous performances combine acrobatics, parkour, humor, and live music into a universal experience. In the immersive show “RoundAbout”, Japanese percussionist Tsubasa Hori surrounds audiences with sound and visuals inspired by Japan’s Bon ritual dance. In “The Musical Circle”, created by Atofri Theatre, children will experience theatre with all their senses – touching, smelling, and feeling the textures of the elements.

The culmination of the festival will be the open-air day on 13th of September, held in the scenic setting of OPT Zamek in Leśnica. The green space at Świętojańska 1 Square will come alive with performances, workshops, animations, concerts, lectures, and meetups. The detailed program and one-day tickets for this special event will go on sale soon.

In the spirit of travelling theatres, “Dziecinada” will also take its mobile edition – “Dziecinada On the Road” – to several smaller towns in Lower Silesia.