We connect, we do not divide

Voices of Belarus

We Connect, We Do Not Divide is a new edition of the Poetic Drive of the Polish Theatre in Wrocław, dedicated to the work of widely understood minorities — national, ethnic, linguistic and cultural. Through poetry, music and a common meeting, we want to learn about the experiences, languages and stories of different communities, including those that co-create today's Wrocław.

The first meeting will be devoted to Belarus. It will be held on October 31, 2026 at 17:00 in the Proza Club.

We will hear both works already belonging to the canon of Belarusian literature, as well as the voices of contemporary poets and poets. The special guest of the evening will be Uladzimir Niaklayeu — one of the most important contemporary Belarusian poets, prose writer, translator and social activist, leader of the social campaign “Tell the truth!” , former chairman of the Belarusian PEN Club, independent candidate for the presidency of Belarus in 2010.

Poetry will be accompanied by traditional Belarusian songs performed by Belarusians living in Wroclaw today, who cultivate the tradition of making music together. Gusli, balalaika, tagelharpa, violin and cymbals will also sound.

Selected texts will be interpreted by actresses and actors of the Polish Theatre in Wrocław and Waleria Cywula — a student from Belarus at the Wrocław Academy of Theatre Arts.

The date of the meeting coincides with the Night of the Shot Poets, celebrated on October 29 and commemorating the mass execution of representatives of the Belarusian intelligentsia carried out in Minsk by the NKVD. The poetry of the artists murdered at that time will be one of the many voices of Belarus that will sound this evening.

The initiator of this meeting is Anastasia Kharitonova. Artistic tutors — Teresa Sawicka and Jolanta Zalewska, actresses of the Polish Theatre and founders of the Poetic Ride.

We unite, we do not share to be a space for meeting — different languages, poets and cultures, but above all people.