Polish Events in London and the UK

The 7th Festival of Polish Folklore in Great Britain

The colour, excitement and spectacle of Polish dance, and music was seen at Birmingham Symphony Hall on February 28th and March 1st 2009.

Over two days the UK's largest gathering of Polish folk performers, featuring 12 groups around 300 performers, from across the UK took to the stage bringing Polish culture alive.

From the fiery elegance and joyful energy of a great variety of Polish folklore regions, to the acrobatic feats of strength found in the rural dances of the Carpathian Mountains, and the many different colourful costumes of Poland.

The 7th Festival of Polish Folklore in Great Britain has it all. Held every three years in different cities, it gives the UK's large Polish community an opportunity to share and to demonstrate their rich and colourful folk culture to the people of the UK.
The festival has been generously sponsored by the Polish Consulate and the National Lottery Fund.

For more information on the the annual Festival of Polish Folklore in Britain please contact Basia Klimas (Chair FPZF and Festival Director) on 020 8395 9892
or
Dana Sujecka (Festival organiser) 0121 377 7155
Adela Kobic (National publicity) 0121 684 4936
Jasia Sujecka (Tickets) on 0121 624 5765

Past Events

Northern Star

Join our Arts Extravaganza lighting up Clifton Park, Rotherham

What: Nothern Star event
Where: Clifton Park, Rotherham S65 2AA
When: Saturday 1st March 2008. Activities from 5pm till 8pm
What: The event celebrates the installation of sculpture by Polish artist Jerzy Kedziora in
Clifton Park.

This work will be displayed until Monday 17th March, and will be lit at night to cheer the last few dark nights of winter. 6.00pm Grand opening by the Mayor followed by:

  • Circus and Light Parade
  • Opening of The Pool of Light
  • Circus Performances with Swamp Circus
    ALL WELCOME! FREE EVENT!

www.rotherham.gov.uk

In the case of poor weather the event may be postponed; details will be broadcast
on local radio and published on the Rotherham MBC website at

Polish Migrants as UK Citizens - FREE Evening Seminar

When: Thursday 28th February 2008, 6.00pm - 7.00 pm
Where: Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, Gainsborough House, Grey Street, Newcastle, NE1 6AE
How: Please contact Michelle Beynon: michelle.beynon@irwinmitchell.com tel: 0191 279 0113

This seminar will look at the immigration to Polish workers into the UK. It will focus on their need for accessible information, both before they travel from Poland and after their arrival in the UK. It will also look at work that has been done by Community Groups, NGOs,
Local Councils and other organisations.
This seminar will also address health and safety concerns facing Polish migrant workers in the workplace and particular difficulties they face in obtaining compensation following injury.

About Us:
Irwin Mitchell named 'National Law Firm of the Year' by the Lawyer was established more than 90 years ago and is the largest personal injury practice in the UK. Irwin Mitchell has offices in Newcastle Upon Tyne and 6 other major cities around the UK.
Straightforward Legal Advice for Polish Citizens Polish speaking clients need to obtain legal advice and information in their own language. At Irwin Mitchell we have a dedicated freephone
Polish legal helpline which will connect clients directly to our team of friendly and efficient Polish-speaking legal advisers.
"Best firm by miles" Chambers and Partners 2007*
*Chambers and Partners is an independent legal directory

Speakers:
Ian Fitzgerald is a leading academic from the School of the Built Environment Northumbria University who has carried out extensive research in liaison with the Trade Unions Congress (TUC), into issues affecting migrant workers, particularly those from Poland.
Roger Maddocks is a partner at Irwin Mitchell who has over 25 years experience in dealing with all types of workplace accident and occupational disease personal injury claims. Roger has played a leading role in many high profile workplace illness cases.

NEWCASTLE: FREE Legal advice sessions for Polish speakers

(no appointment necessary)
When: Last Monday of every month, 5.00 pm - 7.00 pm
Where: Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, Gainsborough House, 34-40 Grey Street, Newcastle NE1 6AE
What: Irwin Mitchell Polish-speaking advisers will be available. If you are unable to attend one of the Advice Sessions, you can contact a Polish speaking advisor by telephone or email
Tel: 0800 015 9028 (freephone number)
E-mail: roszczenia.wypadkowe@irwinmitchell.com

London Polish Rugby Group

What: We are a Rugby project for the Polish community currently puting together a team to play in South West London
Website: www.London-Polish.com
Email: info@London-Polish.com
Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6869846957

Past Events:

Polish Evening at Thames Valley University

Polski Wieczór w Thames Valley University
When: 21 November 2007, 6.30-9pm
Where: Ealing campus, St. Mary's Road, W5 5RF

Karbido Theatre Company at the Tricycle Theatre, London
When: 5-14 November 2007, 7.45pm
Where: Tricycle Theatre, Cinema & Gallery, 269 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR
What: Polish theatre company Karbido's THE TABLE (Stolik)

Poland's Karbido Crew bring their 2007 Edinburgh Festival hit The Table to the Tricycle from 5 November for 12 performances only.

With stick, bows, knives, hands and a mixing desk, The Karbido crew play the specially made original table, a wooden instrument with exceptional and unique acoustic properties. It's a piece of furniture with soul, sensitive to the slightest touch and uniquely resonating.
The Table has been originally conceived and produced by the musicians/performers themselves; Pawel Czepulkowski, Igor Gawlikowski, Michal Litwiniec and Jacek Fedorowicz. Their music has been played across six continents to great acclaim.

The Table was performed at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2007 and is a previous winner of The Toucan Award, the top prize for the best off-stream performance at the 27th Actor's Song Festival in Wroclaw, Poland. Tickets from £9.50 (includes weekend matinees), student and group discounts available. Presented as part of the FEEAST Festival.

Box Office: 020 7328 1000
Book online at www.tricycle.co.uk


Polish Poetry Evening
When: 21 October 2007, at 7pm
Where: Bones Theatre, 86 Leigham Vale, London SW16 2JG
What: Gosia Dobosz and Paweł Baranowski Poetry Evening

Silesian Dance Theatre in Wales

When: Wednesday 10 October 2007, at 7.45pm
Where: Theatr Brycheiniog in Powys, South Wales
What: Śląski Teatr Tańca
Title: Zobaczyć świat w ziarnku piasku (To See the World in a Grain of Sand)

Performers: Sylwia Hefczynska- Lewandowska, Sebastian Zajkowski, Korina Kordova,
Aleksander Kopański
Choreography: Jacek Łumiński
Costumes: Łukasz Kamiński
Music: Paweł Szymański, Gotan Project, Wojciech Blecharz

Śląski Teatr Tańca is Poland's first professional contemporary dance company established in the city of Bytom by director Jacek Łumiński.
The company's repertoire is informed by Jewish songs, legends, superstitions, customs and rituals, as well as the unusual musical structures found in many districts of the country.

Don't miss this opportunity to catch one of Europe's foremost dance companies in Brecon this autumn.

Tickets £10.00 Concessions £9.00
Special Offer £4.00

Polish Community Event in Macclesfield, Cheshire
Volunteers needed to help on the day

When: 8th November 2007 between 11am and 2pm
Where: Macclesfield

Cheshire Constabulary are hosting a Polish Community event in Macclesfield on 8th November between 11am and 2pm. The objective of this event will be to enable our Police Officers and Police Staff to engage with members of the Polish community living in the Macclesfield area. We hope that this will facilitate an introduction to the Polish community and promote their confidence in the service that we offer.

Cheshire Constabulary has already hosted 4 similar events earlier this year and they were very successful.

For the success of this sort of occasion we are dependent on volunteer hosts from the Polish community. The hosts should be happy to chat informally with our staff in English.

We can pay travel expenses from their homes to the Police station in Macclesfield and provide lunch and refreshments during the day. We have found that the experience can be very positive for the Polish volunteers and can often lead to career avenues they may wish to explore e.g. Special Constabulary, Community Observers, Police Community Support Officer.

Anyone interested in volunteering should make contact with Helen Connolly 01244 614127 or email Helen.Connolly@cheshire.pnn.police.uk

Leszek Mozdzer in London

As part of ACT Records 15th anniversary concerts
When: 23rd May 2007
Where: Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho

An opportunity to see bassist and cellist Lars Danielsson in collaboration with Polish piano sensation Leszek Mozdzer. Danielsson has released three albums as a leader on ACT and lent his talents to numerous others, and here performs the music he and Mozdzer recorded on the forthcoming ACT album Pasodoble, a piano and bass duo which is released on May 7th. For further information, please contact Air, on 020 8834 7373 Joe Baxter joe@airmtm.com, Sheela Bates sheela@airmtm.com or Gbenga Adelekan gbenga@airmtm.com

FILM : I Am

Director: Dorota Kedzierzawska, Poland, 2005
93' event total 125'
Plus director Q&A
English Subtitles
When: Saturday 10th March 2007 at 2pm
Where: ICA CINEMA
Tickets: £8/£7 Concessions. £6 ICA Members

To book please call the box office on 0207 930 3647
or visit WWW.ICA.ORG.UK

"A beautiful and pertinent film about child poverty and the singular human need for love." - Fiona Fletcher, BEV programmer

Plot Summary:

In February 2002, a teenager was detained by police in Lodz. The boy having run away from a children's home, spent six months living alone in a shed.. Nobody was surprised or, for that matter, bothered by his presence'

Inspired by these true events, I Am is the fourth feature from one of Poland's most talented, award winning directors Dorota Kedierzawska. Stunningly shot and set to a soundtrack by Michael Nyman, I Am is the story of a young boy known to his community only as 'Mongrel'.

Living on an old, battered barge, Mongrel befriends a troubled little girl from an affluent family who live nearby. This chance meeting brings about his first experiences of affection and even love which he has been lacking all of his young life. Not out to blame anyone or take charity, the independent and brave Mongrel wins our affections with his stoicism and undeniable spirit.

In a poignant scene towards the end of the film, Mongrel has learnt how to stand up for himself with dignity, he states his right to exist and make choices ('I Am') even when hope seems lost. Piotr Jagielski puts in an exceptional talented and authentic performance as a child surviving constant rejection.