Managing the Process of Production of Theatre Play

Warsaw is a city full of theatre institutions. After the economical and political transformation of 1989, a new era of free market based issues arose. Many theatre intstitutions became municipal in the mid 90's. In the early 2000's many private theatre were brought to life. Ever since two ways of thinking about culture are fighting each other.

Commercial or artistic profile of the institution defines the way of thinking of the managers and the policy of the institution. Each type has its unique goals and ways of achieving them. Depending on the type of funding and profile theatre directors aim at different audience and type of sponsors.

A qualitative study of a Polish public theatre shows the management technics and problems of a public artistic theatre. In this presentation I would like to describe the map of theatre institutions in Warsaw based on their funding, artistic/commercial profile and their management style. Howard Becker's “art world” consists not only of actors and directors, but also of managers, producers and other professions necessary for the creative production process to take place. Analysis of managers and types of funding allows us to better understand different elements of the creative process. Creativity is thus required not only in the core of artistic occupations but also of the service industry.