“Polish Focus” at the DramaFest International Festival of Contemporary Drama in Mexico

From 11 November to 14 December, Polish theatre will take centre stage at the DramaFest International Festival of Contemporary Drama in Mexico. This will be made possible through “Polish Focus” – a special programme of events co-organised by the Zbigniew Raszewski Theatre Institute, Cero Varo in Mexico City, and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.

International Contemporary Drama Festival DramaFest – A Cultural Encounter Between Mexico and Poland

DramaFest: International Contemporary Drama Festival (DramaFest - Festival Internacional de Dramaturgia Contemporánea) in Mexico City is a leading festival dedicated to contemporary theatre and drama. It serves as a platform for cultural exchange and collaboration between Mexican and international artists. Every two years, artists from Mexico meet their counterparts from a selected partner country, not only to explore existing works but also to create new ones together.

During the 11th edition of DramaFest, the Mexican audience will have the opportunity to explore the contemporary Polish theater scene through a series of events featured in the “Polish Focus” programme. Thanks to the cooperation initiated by the Theatre Institute, the Jan Kochanowski Theatre in Opole, and DramaFest co-founders the participation of Polish artists in the festival has become possible. The partner of this year’s edition of DramaFest is the Jan Kochanowski Theatre in Opole, and the co-organizer is the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. Festival is co-funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland as part of the implementation of the Polish program during the international festival dedicated to contemporary drama, DramaFest, in Mexico.

Premieres and Performances by Polish Playwrights at DramaFest 2025 – New Voices in Polish Drama

This year’s edition will spotlight Poland – renowned for its contemporary theatre tradition, marked by political and social engagement that strongly resonated in Mexico in the latter half of the twentieth century. Audiences in Mexico City and Monterrey will see the premiere of “Między nami dobrze jest” (“No Matter How Hard We Try”) by Dorota Masłowska, produced during the festival, directed by Diego del Río, and translated by Pau Freixa Terradas. The programme will also feature guest performances of “Każdego dnia jest mi żal” (“Every Day I Feel Sorry”) by Artur Pałyga, presented by the Opole Puppet and Actor Theatre, directed by Katarzyna Dudzic-Grabińska and Karolina Gorzkowska, and translated by Kamila Łapicka.

In addition, there will be readings of two contemporary Polish plays: “Czuję wstyd, żyjąc w takim świecie” (“I am Ashamed to Live in Such a World”) by Jolanta Janiczak and “Cerber z Beaubourg” (“Cerberus of Beaubourg”) by Tadeusz Słobodzianek. Both texts were translated by the renowned Catalan translator Pau Freixa Terradas.  The programme will also include the premiere of a Mexican play directed by a Polish artist – Norbert Rakowski will stage “Arde todo mientras canta” (loosely translated as Everything Burns When He Sings), written by Verónica Villicaña, winner of a local competition for the best dramatic text. The festival’s accompanying events will feature workshops in playwriting, led by Artur Pałyga, and in theatre pedagogy, conducted by Maria Babicka-Janiszewska and Krystyna Mogilnicka.

Program of the International Contemporary Drama Festival DramaFest in Mexico

• Premieres

  • Mexican production of “Między nami dobrze jest” (“No Matter How Hard We Try”) by Dorota Masłowska, directed by Diego del Río (Mexico City) | 12 performances will take place in Mexico City at Teatro El Galeón: 11 November – 4 December, and  1 performance in Monterrey at Teatro del Centro de las Artes: 10 December

  • Staging of the Mexican play “Everything Burns When He Sings” (Arde todo mientras canta) by Verónica Villicaña, directed by Norbert Rakowski (Poland) | 12 performances will take place in Mexico City at Teatro El Galeón: 14 November – 7 December, and 1 performance in Monterrey at Teatro del Centro de las Artes: 14 December

  • Guest performances of “Każdego dnia jest mi żal” (“Every Day I Feel Sorry”) by Artur Pałyga, directed by Katarzyna Dudzic-Grabińska and Karolina Gorzkowska, translated by Kamila Łapicka | 1 performance will take place in Mexico City at Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris: 7 December, and 1 in Monterrey at Teatro de la Ciudad: 9 December

• Stage readings

  • “Culebras de agua” by Lizet Norzagaray, directed by Rocío Carrillo | 18 November at Teatro Benito Juárez in Mexico City and 13 December at Sala Experimental in Monterrey.

  • “Cerberus of Beaubourg” by Tadeusz Słobodzianek, directed by Ana Graham | 19 November at Teatro Benito Juárez in Mexico City and 11 December at Sala Experimental in Monterrey.

  • “Czuję wstyd, żyjąc w takim świecie” (“I am Ashamed to Live in Such a World”) by Jolanta Janiczak, directed by Alberto Ontiveros | 25 November at Teatro Benito Juárez in Mexico City and 12 December at Sala Experimental in Monterrey

  • “Todas somos Scherezada” by Luis Guerrero, directed by Víctor Hernández | 26 November at Teatro Benito Juárez in Mexico City and on 8 December at Sala Experimental in Monterrey

• Workshops

  • Workshops on theatre pedagogy with Maria Babicka-Janiszewska and Krystyna Mogilnicka (Zbigniew Raszewski Theatre Institute) | 1–5 December, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., at Foro Cosmos in Mexico City, and 8–12 December, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., at Teatro de la Ciudad in Monterrey
  • Dramaturgy workshops with Artur Pałyga | 1–5 December, 3:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m., at Centro Cultural El Rule in Mexico City, and 8–12 December, 2:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m., at Teatro de la Ciudad in Monterrey

More information: www.dramafestmx.com