Embedded Files
DISCOVER OUR REPERTOIRE
Welcome to SITFY Poland Festival
Welcome to SITFY Poland Festival
SITFY Poland—the Polish edition of the renowned Sharm El‑Sheikh International Theatre Festival for Youth (SITFY)—is an innovative celebration of solo performance hosted in the heart of Kraków since April, 2024.
Born from the Egyptian festival founded in 2016 by Mazen El‑Gharabawy, this European offshoot brings together emerging theatre creators and young talents from around the world.
Focused on pushing the boundaries of expressive storytelling, SITFY Poland invites compelling solo performances—monodramas—that delve into powerful personal narratives, cultural identities, and theatrical experimentation. It acts as both a platform for emerging voices and a hub of artistic dialogue, encouraging knowledge exchange among participants, directors, and international theatre professionals .
Organized in partnership with KITE Theater and spearheaded by leaders from SITFY headquarters, the festival fosters intercultural collaboration and creative innovation. Hosted in Kraków, a vibrant cultural capital, SITFY Poland captures the city’s dynamic spirit and historic backdrop
Whether you're an artist, student, critic, or dedicated audience member, SITFY Poland stands as an inspiring meeting ground—a space where singular stories on stage reflect universal truths, and where mono-performances become powerful vessels for global connection.
Festival's mission
Festival's mission
In the face of today’s challenges – growing tensions, wars, and divisions – we believe that theatre has the power to build bridges.
SITFY Poland was born out of the need to create a space that connects rather than divides.
Theatre is a universal language — beyond linguistic, cultural, and political barriers.
Our aim is to foster an open, empathetic society free from prejudice — through art.
We treat multiculturalism not as a trend, but as a foundation for the future.
We work to counter exclusion, fear of difference, and cultural isolation — because diversity is the driving force of progress and a source of creative inspiration.
Through the collaboration of artists from different parts of the world, we support the cultural education of younger generations, promote Poland as an open centre of artistic dialogue, and position Kraków as a place of real cooperation between East and West.
Our Goals
Our Goals
Build lasting partnerships with international theatre movements.
Create a better future through artistic exchange between East and West.
Present contemporary theatre as a mirror of national experiences and social change.
Establish the festival as an annual international event supporting cultural growth and artistic investment.
Shape attitudes of openness and mutual respect through contact with the diversity of cultures and artistic experiences.
SP Guide 2 print.pdfSitfy Poland 2nd Edition
Sitfy Poland 2nd Edition
The second edition of SITFY Poland unfolded in Kraków from May 15–18, 2025, reaffirming its role as a dynamic international platform for monodrama and solo theatre. Held at the Dworek Białoprądnicki Cultural Center, this edition featured five compelling competitive performances, showcasing distinctive perspectives from Poland, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, and India.
The festival opened with an honorary presentation of our production, “Between Heaven and Earth”, directed by Zien Rashad.
An esteemed international jury reviewed the entries: Levan Khetaguri (jury president, Georgia), Erika Moldovan (Romania), Erlita Rexhpi (Kosovo), and Majid Al‑Aufi (Oman) .
The top honor of the festival was awarded to the Polish monodrama “Maryla”, affirming the strength and creativity of Poland’s theatrical scene.
In addition to the competition, SITFY Poland honored two outstanding figures for their contributions to theatre and cultural dialogue: Jolanta Kozak-Sutowicz, a renowned Polish actress based in Germany and the creator of the internationally respected Thespis Monodrama Festival and Josue Mastroianni, an American composer currently residing in Poland, whose work bridges theatre, music, and interdisciplinary performance.
Organized through a collaboration between SITFY Egypt and KITE Theater, the festival received backing from Dworek Białoprądnicki Multicultural Centre in Kraków, the IB Polska Foundation, and the City of Kraków, highlighting its cultural significance and impact
With its growing international recognition, SITFY Poland continues to provide a vibrant space for emerging theatre-makers and diverse audiences—celebrating personal storytelling and intercultural engagement through the intimate art of solo performance.
SP Guide 1.pdfSitfy Poland 1st Edition
Sitfy Poland 1st Edition
Inaugurated between April 20–23, 2024, in Kraków, the debut edition of SITFY Poland—the Polish offshoot of the Sharm El‑Sheikh International Theatre Festival for Youth—marked a bold step into the European theatre scene.
Hosted at the historic Dworek Białoprądnicki Cultural Center, this pioneering event brought together seven monodramas chosen from over 50 submissions, each offering a profoundly intimate and expressive form of storytelling.
The festival featured performances from a diverse international lineup: Poland, Romania, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kosovo. Alongside competitive pieces, the festival welcomed French playwright Jean‑Pierre Martinez and Kosovar actor Mirsad Ferati as guests of honour, underscoring its global reach and artistic ambition.
A highly respected international jury—comprising experts from Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Albania, and Kosovo—awarded top honours across several categories The Romanian show, Don’t Revenge Us by Ionuț Poclid (direction by Ella Nistor) earned Best Integrated Show and Best Actress for Silvia Raileanu.
From its dynamic international lineup to the thoughtful recognition of artistic excellence, the inaugural SITFY Poland created a fertile space for monodrama and cross-cultural exchange. It brought audiences and artists together in Kraków around the shared power of solo theatre to speak truth, evoke emotion, and connect worlds.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse