On 7 December 2025 in Warsaw, Piotr Cieplak, a highly regarded theatre director, pedagogue and long-serving lecturer at the Theatre Academy, died. The artist was 65 years old and passed away after a long illness.
Piotr Cieplak was born in 1960 in Częstochowa. He graduated from the Faculty of Theatre Studies of the Theatre Academy in Warsaw and the Directing Faculty of the State Higher School of Theatre in Kraków. He made his directing debut in 1989 at the Wilam Horzyca Theatre in Toruń. In the following years he worked with many prestigious stages, including the Contemporary Theatre in Wrocław and the Dramatic Theatre and the Powszechny Theatre in Warsaw. From 1996 to 1998 he served as artistic director of the Rozmaitości Theatre in Warsaw, contributing to its development and strength. From 2014 he was a staff director at the National Theatre, where he created productions such as „Elementarz”, „Wieczór Trzech Króli albo Co chceje” and „Czekając na Godota”, for which he received the Cyprian Kamil Norwid Award in 2024.
Cieplak was also known for his television productions, including „Wyprawy krzyżowe”, „Człowiek, który był Czwartkiem”, „Słomkowy kapelusz”, „Opowiadania dla dzieci” and „Sen srebrny Salomei”. His work drew inspiration from literature, including the works of Jerzy Pilch, such as „Narty Ojca Świętego”.
Piotr Cieplak received numerous awards for his achievements, including the Paszport „Polityki” (Polityka Passport), the Grand Prix of the 19th Opole Theatre Confrontations, the Zygmunt Hübner „Człowiek Teatru” Award, the Konrad Swinarski Awards and the Feliks Warszawski Award. In 2016 he was honoured with the Silver Medal „Zasłużony Kulturze Gloria Artis”, and in 2024 with the Gold Medal of the same name.
It was the Theatre Academy that first announced the artist’s death on its Instagram profile. In its statement, the university expressed its great sadness:
“With great sadness we received the news of the passing of Prof. Piotr Cieplak – a highly regarded director, pedagogue and lecturer, who combined attentiveness, a sense of humour and immense kindness in his work with students”.
Condolences have been extended to his loved ones.
The death of Piotr Cieplak has moved the artistic community. Many stars, including Cezary Żak and Rafał Zawierucha, bid farewell to him in heartfelt posts on social media, highlighting his contribution to Polish theatre and his personal kindness.
Piotr Cieplak’s passing is a great loss for Polish theatre. His legacy will remain an inspiration for future generations of artists.
