Danuta Baduszkowa Musical Theatre in Gdynia

Poland's largest musical theatre is not in Warsaw or Kraków but on Grunwaldzki Square in Gdynia. The Danuta Baduszkowa Musical Theatre has three stages seating more than 1,580 people in total, and in terms of capacity only the Grand Theatre in Warsaw is bigger. An evening at a musical is a good way to end a day in central Gdynia, a few minutes from Kościuszko Square.

History: from Nowy Port to Grunwaldzki Square

The theatre was founded on 28 October 1957 as the Musical Theatre in Gdańsk. Its first years were spent in the Maritime House of Culture in Gdańsk's Nowy Port district, and its first premiere was the operetta “Ball at the Opera” (18 May 1958). Its creator and first director was the stage director Danuta Baduszkowa, whose name the theatre has borne since 1992.

Its own building in Gdynia was designed by Józef Chmiel and Daniel Olędzki. The foundation stone was laid in 1972 and the house opened on 21 July 1979; the first premiere in the new home was “Krakowiacy i górale”. In 2010–2013 the theatre underwent its first major rebuild, carried out without interrupting the company's work. The Main Stage auditorium grew to 1,070 seats, a New Stage with 300 seats was added, and the floor area rose from 14,000 to 19,000 m². After the expansion the theatre reopened in September 2013 with the musical “Chłopi” (The Peasants).

Three stages and the largest proscenium

Performances take place on the Main Stage, the New Stage and the Chamber Stage. The Main Stage has the largest proscenium opening in Poland: 18 m wide and 9 m high. Since 2016 it has been closed by a navy-blue velvet curtain weighing about 300 kg, with a discreet Art Deco ornament that echoes modernist Gdynia. More than 100,000 people visit the theatre each year.

Musicals dominate the programme, but the house also hosts concerts and guest productions. A state vocal and acting college has been based in the building since 1966, and the theatre has hosted events such as the Polish Film Festival.

Tripto tips

• The main box office (entrance by the New Stage) is open Tuesday to Friday 12:00–19:00; the box offices by each stage open one hour before the performance (as of October 2026). Tickets can also be bought online.
• Phone bookings: 58 661 60 00 or 58 785 59 00 — Mondays 9:00–15:00, Tuesday to Friday 9:00–17:00, no later than 7 days before the show.
• The Large Family Card gives a PLN 10 discount on tickets bought at the box office. Wheelchair users are admitted free of charge if they register with the audience service office at least a week in advance.
• For the most popular Main Stage titles, book a few weeks ahead. Gdynia Główna railway station is a walk of around fifteen minutes.