Teatr Biuro Podróży


Teatr Biuro Podróży is an alternative theatre company based in Poznań, Poland. Founded by Paweł Szkotak in 1988, this Polish theatre ensemble creates and performs large-scale, outdoor theatre on social and political themes, using gesture, physical action, visual spectacle, music, and minimal text. The company tours regularly and has performed in fifty countries around the world.
Projects:
political and social tension.
2008: work with Palestinian refugees in Bourj el Barajneh camp in southern Beirut and the presentation of “Carmen
Funebre.”
2008: research journey to Cuba and the presentation of “Pigs.”
2009: tour in the West Bank: Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jenin with the performance of “Carmen Funebre.” Meetings and barters with
local communities.
The group’s most famous piece, Carmen Funebre, is based on interviews with victims of the Balkan wars. Developed in 1993-1994, Carmen Funebre continues to tour internationally, including performances in the U.S. in 2003 and in the UK in 2007. Carmen Funebre was awarded Fringe First, the Critic’s Award, and the Hamada Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The ensemble's most recent production, HofD premiered in London in the summer of 2007 at the National Theatre's outdoor festival, Watch This Space.
They have a strong relationship with the National Theatre in London, performing there every summer as part of the National's summer festival 2004-2010. Their 2010 appearance is 'Carmen Funebre' in July.

Productions

Born in 1965, Szkotak was educated at Adam Mickiewicz University. In addition to leading Teatr Biuro Podróży, he is also the artistic director of Polski Teatr in Poznan, which was named one of the best repertory theatres in Poland by Teatr magazine in 2004. He is also director of the Maski Festival of experimental theatre in Poznan. He has been granted over a dozen awards for his work, including the prestigious Passport award from Polityka magazine, presented to outstanding Polish artists that represent Poland abroad.