Center of Inclusive Art / Theater 21
Theater 21 is a Warsaw-based theatre company and social cultural institution founded in 2005 by theatre pedagogue and director Justyna Sobczyk, internationally recognised as a pioneer of inclusive and disability-led contemporary performance. The company develops new artistic languages rooted in embodied knowledge, collective creation and long-term collaboration with artists with intellectual disabilities, including Down syndrome and autism.
In 2018, Theater 21 established the Center of Inclusive Art / Theater 21, a social institution of culture dedicated to artistic production, professionalisation, research and international exchange in the field of inclusive arts. Center of Inclusive Art operates as a multidisciplinary platform connecting theatre, performance, choreography, critical disability studies and education, while actively shaping inclusive cultural policies and practices.
Center of Inclusive Art / Theater 21 challenges dominant norms of representation and production in contemporary theatre. Their work addresses themes of diversity, care, autonomy, visibility and social justice, confronting taboos and questioning regimes of normality through rigorous artistic practice rather than symbolic inclusion.
Artistic Practice and International Presence
Over the past two decades, Theater 21 has created dozens of performances presented at major theatres, cultural institutions and festivals across Poland and internationally. The company regularly works in co-production with leading public theatres and contemporary art institutions, maintaining a strong presence within mainstream cultural circuits while remaining grounded in disability-led authorship.
Theater 21’s works have been shown internationally, including in Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, England and the United States. Its video performance Body to Body with Marilyn was selected for the official programme of the Segal Center Film Festival on Theatre and Performance in New York. The company actively collaborates with international artists, researchers and institutions, contributing to transnational debates on inclusive arts, ethics of representation and accessibility.
Center of Inclusive Art / Theater 21 develops long-term international programmes, research-based projects and educational formats that connect artistic practice with critical reflection. Its activities position disability not as a marginal theme, but as a central and generative force shaping contemporary art and society.
Team
Justyna Wielgus – Artistic Director of Center of Inclusive Art / Theater 21
Director, choreographer, performer and curator. Since 2013, she has co-created the Center of Inclusive Art / Theater 21, currently responsible for the artistic development of the ensemble and international programmes. Her work focuses on embodied diversity, disability aesthetics and collaborative creation. She has directed productions such as Libido Romantico, Body to Body with Marilyn, Seven Cruel Stories and Filokteja. Return, and has collaborated with theatres and collectives across Poland and Europe.
Justyna Lipko-Konieczna – Dramaturg, Research Lead
Dramaturg, theatre scholar and educator. A member of the Board and dramaturg of Center of Inclusive Art / Theater 21, she integrates disability studies into contemporary theatre practice. She is the author of numerous theatrical scripts and publications, co-creator of inclusive educational programmes, and a specialist in critical dramaturgy, bridging theory and practice.
Marceli Sulecki – President of the Teatr 21 Foundation
Cultural manager and producer. Since 2012, he has coordinated and produced Theater 21’s artistic and institutional development. He is responsible for strategic planning, international cooperation and sustainable organisational models within the Center of Inclusive Art / Theater 21.
Media and Epidemics (MEDEP) 