Paweł Dobrzycki

Paweł Dobrzycki is a Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, where he founded the Department of Stage Design within the Faculty of Scenography. A distinguished theatre set designer, architect, and painter, he has created over 350 stage designs for drama, opera, and film productions across Poland, England, Germany, Russia, Greece, Israel, and the Netherlands.

Dobrzycki's artistic research centers on theatre scenography and stage design, with significant contributions to theatre architecture and lighting design. His work bridges classical and contemporary repertoires, exemplified by productions at The Globe Theatre (London) and the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus (Greece), where he directed a trilogy of Greek tragedies. His visual style, described as a "theatre of visions," integrates painting and drawing to create immersive theatrical environments.

His recent projects demonstrate remarkable versatility across media: Shakespeare's "King Lear" (2022) at The Globe Theatre, two 2024 television adaptations ("Deprawator" and "Dowód na istnienie drugiego"), and the 2019 award-winning film "Dama z łasiczką." These works reflect his mastery in adapting literary and historical narratives for diverse performance contexts while maintaining a distinct visual signature.

Scientific Awards

• Pegasus Award
• Golden Remi Award (2019, Houston Film Festival)
• Jan Kiepura Award
• Pomeranian Voivode Award
• Gloria Artis Medal

As an educator, Dobrzycki has mentored award-winning students who have excelled at the Festival of Young Scenography and the World Stage Design Students Exchange (winning Cristal Cube awards in 2014 and 2018). His leadership in establishing Poland's first Department of Scenography has shaped national theatre education standards. Though specific grants aren't documented, his prolific output across 350+ productions indicates consistent funding from cultural institutions and theatres.

Dobrzycki collaborates with elite directors including Yuri Alexandrov and Helena Kaut-Howson through partnerships with venues like the Young Vic and Deutsche Nationaltheater. As an OISTAT commission member, he influences global theatre design education, while his advisory roles for the Polityka Architectural Award and Stanisław Wyspiański Theatre Award demonstrate his cross-disciplinary impact.