Teatr Żelazny

Teatr Żelazny (the Iron Theatre) is an independent repertory theatre in Katowice, run by an association founded in 2011. Its base is at Gliwicka 148a in the Załęże district. The theatre stages performances for adults and for children, and also runs theatre education.

Where the theatre operates

Since 2021 the theatre has rented from the city a former school building at Gliwicka 148a. The rooms serve as workshop and rehearsal rooms, offices and storerooms, but the building has no room large enough to be turned into an auditorium. For that reason a temporary hall seating 139 has been put up next door, where the performances are given. The theatre has announced the construction of a permanent, larger theatre hall.

How it began and where it performed before

The association was founded in 2011 on the initiative of an actor and theatre producer. For the first few months it operated within the "Bogucice-Zawodzie" Municipal Cultural Centre. In 2012 it rented the railway station building at Katowice Ligota, where the official inauguration took place on 26 October 2012. The Stacja Ligota Creative Space and Teatr Żelazny operated there, and a café was opened in 2013.

In 2014, because of the modernisation of the station, the theatre moved to the abandoned Art Nouveau station Katowice Piotrowice at Armii Krajowej 40, which had served as a station until 2006. An amphitheatre-style auditorium for 100 people was created there. In summer 2022 PKP terminated the theatre's lease, and for several months performances were given at the "Południe" Municipal Cultural Centre while the move was being prepared.

What is on stage

The themes of the performances concern mainly the contemporary world. The theatre stages performances for both adults and children. Selected titles listed include "Ciało obce" (Foreign Body), "Diwa" (Diva), "Parapetówka" (Housewarming), "Pchła Szachrajka" (The Cheating Flea), "Złota Rybka" (The Goldfish), "Jabłko" (The Apple) and "Seks dla opornych" (Sex for Beginners). The performance "Jabłko" received the Golden Mask in 2017, one of the most important theatre awards of the Silesian Voivodeship.

The theatre works with artists from all over Poland, and in Ligota it hosted independent companies and artists from other stages. The current repertoire is published on the theatre's website, so check there for the titles and dates of current performances.

Education and accompanying offer

According to the theatre's website, besides performances it runs year-round acting workshops for children, young people and adults, as well as training in self-presentation and public speaking. The website also has a tab for the Performing Arts Academy and an offer of organised events, and a restaurant operates as well.

Nearby

It is about 1.8 km from the theatre to the Silesian Zoological Garden in Chorzów.

About 2.6 km further on, in the centre of Katowice, lies the Stanisław Wyspiański Silesian Theatre.

Practical information

• Address: Gliwicka 148a, Katowice-Załęże.
• Auditorium: a temporary hall seating 139 next to the former school building.
• Repertoire, bookings and dates: the website teatrzelazny.pl.
• Some performances are for adults only; this is noted next to the titles in the repertoire.