The Gdansk Shakespeare Theatre is located in the heart of the dynamic industrial and port city of Gdansk, Poland. Designed by Italian architect Renato Rizzi, it was built in 2014 on the site of a 17th-century theatre known as the “Fencing School,” where traveling English troupes once performed works of English Renaissance theatre.
In 2022, the theatre purchased 11 Robe T1 Profile fixtures to provide primary lighting for all performances, as explained by technical manager Jòzef Leoniuk.
Jòzef Leoniuk
The T1 Profiles were selected after a competitive tender process for their silent operation, high color rendering index (CRI), wide white range, and refined dimming curve.
The decision was also influenced by the high-quality support provided by Robe’s Polish distributor, Prolight in Warsaw, and their local agent, Grupo Profit in Gdansk.
The theatre required fixtures with precise framing shutters, as accurate and effective actor lighting is essential for Shakespearean storytelling.
Technical Features Supporting the Theatre’s Needs
The main stage measures 14 meters wide, 11 meters deep, and 9 meters high, with three technical bridges above the stage and three above the audience. The T1 Profiles are repositioned as needed for various productions.
“These are extremely useful fixtures,” commented Jòzef, a former member of the lighting department who now leads a technical team of six. He added that “everyone” is happy working with the T1 Profiles.
Additional features such as color options, gobos, animation wheels, and a zoom range from 7° to 49° are highly valuable for other events hosted in the 600-seat venue, which can also accommodate 1,000 standing attendees. The theatre also hosts techno parties, jazz concerts, and its annual Shakespeare Festival in July.
“This is a lively and dynamic space, and we greatly value this very flexible light,” added Jòzef, emphasizing that “the T1 Profiles make the lighting process much faster and smoother. They are very easy and enjoyable to use.”
A Considered Choice Inspired by a Collaboration
Three brands were initially considered before selecting Robe, which the theatre first experienced during an Italian production of The Tempest, directed by Alessandro Serra with lighting design by Stefano Bardelli. “The company brought their own T1s. We were truly impressed and knew we had to have them for ourselves!” explained Jòzef.
Furthermore, the T1 Profiles are highly compatible with the theatre’s existing tungsten fixtures, thanks to their extended white range from 2700K to 8000K. “Robe has truly addressed the theatre market’s needs with the T series,” he said, adding that “Robe’s product lines are all excellent and cover a wide range of applications.”
Jòzef also observed that Robe is “well-known, established, and respected in Poland.” He first encountered the brand earlier in his career while working as a lighting technician and operator at KLUB ŻAK, a popular arts and cultural venue in the city center known for its mix of cinema, theatre, bar, and trendy events.
More information on the Robe Lighting website
