“COSMIC” WILL BE THE LEAD WOED OF THE 8TH DRAGON PARADE
THE GROTESKA THEATRE GUARANTEES COSMIC ENTERTAINMENT AND PROGRAMME

The Dragon Parade is a procession of about 50 dragons (each at least 4 metres long), constructed and operated by around 1,200 children. This year the creatures will come from the most distant parts of our galaxy, or even beyond it, to visit Kraków. The inhabitants of distant planets and the dark space, hot stars and black holes will be invited to celebrate.
On 2.30 pm, the Jury will announce its verdict in a competition for the finest dragon

The Competition for the Knight and the Lady-in-Waiting
7 June (Saturday)
1.00 am -3.00 pm: Dominikańska Street - Grodzka Street- the Main Market Square

Brave Knights! Do not hesitate to use pots as headgear, dress up in cardboard-made coats of arms, with lids as your shields, and do not forget your swords! And you, Fair Ladies! Pick up your best ball gowns and golden crowns. Come to stand by St George’s side!
Let’s meet in the Planty near Dominikańska Street. All the knights, big or small, are invited to gather in a battle array under St George’s command. Accompanied by the their ladies, to the sounds of clanging arms, drums and battle songs, they will escort the dragons to the Main Market Square.
On 3.00 pm, the Jury will announce its verdict in a competition for the most beautiful Knight and Lady-in-Waiting on the Main Market Square.

The Grand Outdoor Performance on the Vistula
7 June (Saturday)
9.45 pm, the Vistula river bend at the foot of Wawel Hill
The Grand Outdoor Show on the Vistula River (sound-and-light) offers fireworks, music, light and water curtain effects. Huge dragons (up to 25 long and 15 high) will fly over or glide on the river. The dragons on barges and boats will be operated by actors of the Groteska Theatre. It will be a multimedia show, a theatrical and musical mix.

The Dragon Family Picnic
7-8 June, Vistula river banks by the Dragon’s Cave
7 June (Satruday) 11.00 am – 9.00 pm
8 June (Sunday) 11.00 am -7.00 pm

During this two-day family event everyone will be invited to benefit from the various attractions offered by the Groteska Theatre on that occasion – knights’ festivities, dragon competitions and concerts. Numerous dance and music ensembles will perform on the stage. Professional music bands (Folkowianie, Cinemon, Jazz Sphere, Horyzont Zdarzeń, Muka and The 30th of July ensembles) will play along with children’s ensembles representing culture houses and dance schools.

A few words about Groteska…
The GROTESKA Theatre is the only puppet, mask and actor’s theatre in Kraków. It was created by Zofia and Władysław Jarema over sixty years ago and since that time has acquainted its audiences with a world theatrical magic. The theatre’s activities go far beyond production and presentation of performances, so it has become a modern theatrical centre with an array of stage-related activities.

The Grand Dragon Parade
The GROTESKA Theatre is the organiser and the initiator of the Grand Dragon Parade, an outdoor event of international renown and great popularity. Every year it attracts thousands of tourists and dragon enthusiasts to Kraków. Over 1,000 children operate dragons which take part in the parade -- a sound-and-light show with dragons (up to 25 metres long) flying and gliding on the Vistula at night and a two-day family picnic.

Stage for Children and Adult Audience
The main activity of the Theatre is the production of theatrical performances for children and young people. In 2003, the Adult Audience Stage (renowned in the 1950s and 1960s, the stage of the first premieres of Gałczyński’s, Mrożek’s and Różewicz’s plays ) was restored.

Groteska OF Stage
Best cabarets and unconventional projects (e.g. Reality Shopka Szoł with politicians performing on stage), or multimedia concerts are to be seen on the Groteska OFF Stage.

Theatre Closer to School
Under the programme Theatre Closer to School, GROTESKA organises reviews of children’s works, art competitions, an all-Polish competition of theatre knowledge and workshops for children (Theatre for You), educational workshops and courses for teachers.

Organisation of outdoor events
Outdoor artistic events for wide and diversified audiences have recently become GROTESKA’s speciality (as a co-organiser of the Jubilee of the granting of the town charter to Kraków, the Straw Man of the Century event, the Living Theatre and many other events).