Books Take Centre Stage

In 2022, we started a series of meetings with literature, theatre and… sport. Famous sportspeople, often world champions such as Leszek Blanik and Mateusz Kusznierewicz, read a selection of excellent children’s books in collaboration with actors and theatre educators and the audience. After each reading, there was an opportunity to ask the guest questions – kids always had plenty of them – and take part in workshops. For creating and coordinating the project Books Take Centre Stage, Justyna Sawicka from our Literary Department received a nomination in the category of reading promotion in the national Book of the Year competition of the Polish Section of IBBY, an international organisation dealing with literature for young readers.

The project continues. In the second season, we invited people with interesting professions to read books.

‘Season two was created so that children could see that good books play a big part in the lives of people in unusual professions. They can also learn about all the different career options in the future,’ says Justyna Sawicka, the project’s initiator. Guests included the mayor of the city, the founder of a forecasting institute and a pianist. A special edition with Justyna Bednarek, a popular writer, took place during the Gdańsk Book Fair in the beautiful interiors of the library at the European Solidarity Centre.

Each event in the series involves the reading of a selected book and a meeting with a special guest, during which you can ask them about their profession. Afterwards, those who feel like deepening the topic of the book and enjoying the theatre can take part in a family workshop. All events are translated into Polish Sign Language. To take part in the event, you need to buy an entrance ticket for a nominal amount of 5 PLN at the Miniatura Theatre’s head office (available a month before the event).