Oh my! Warsaw’s Syrena Theatre and Chorzów’s Teatr Rozrywki have siged a deal to co-produce the musical “Beetlejuice”. The horror musical will pre-premiere on September 13, 2025 in the Syrena Theatre, while the second premiere in 2026 will happen in Teatr Rozrywki.
“Beetlejuice” is a story about an untypical, already diseased couple – Adam and Barabra Maitland – who die in a car accident and come back as ghosts. They decide to return to their home which is now occupied by a new family – the Deetz. The Mailands try to get rid of them with the help of Beetlejuice – a chaotic and excentric ghost who has his own rather crazy plans.
The musical was based on Tim Burton’s cult 1988 movie, and was created by a team led by Eddie Perfect (music and song lyrics), Scott Brown and Anthony King (libretto), who perfectly brought to stage the mix of eccentricity and cosmic horror from Burton’s film. So perfectly, that they were nominated for several Tony awards, the musical equivalent of the Academy Award.
“Beetlejuice” is a film from my childhood, so I’m extremely happy and excited to begin work. What surprised me about the Broadway version was its incredible topicality. Of course, there are ghosts, phantoms, heads falling off and creaking floors. There’s the remarkable and captivating music, a big show, but there’s also space for a moving portrayal of a lost teenage girl who has to deal with the loss of her mother.
Jacek Mikołajczyk, the translator and director of the musical, as well as artistic director in the Syrena Theatre
The musical “Beetlejuice” had its world premiere at the National Theater in Washington in October 2018, and then made its Broadway debut in April 2019 at the Winter Garden Theatre. Now it’s time for the combined forces of the Syrena Theatre and Teatr Rozrywki.
I’m very glad that Teatr Rozrywki in Chorzowie accepted our offer to co-produce the musical “Beetlejuice”. We’re combining our powers and experiences, giving audiences in Warsaw and in Silesia an opportunity to see an outstanding top-notch production, and when we combine our efforts at promotion, the play will be on the mouths of everyone in Poland. As part of the co-production, we will create e.g. shared set design, costumes and prompts. This solution fits into our thinking about ecology in a cultural institution – we will use half as much materials and energy.
Monika Walecka, the director of the Syrena Theatre
Shared productions are a well-thought-out ecological action, but also a sharing of experiences.
This collaboration between Teatr Rozrywki in Chorzów and the Syrena Theatre in Warsaw is the next step in diversifying our musical offer in the region. From the perspective of a shared production, possible cast exchanges, we will be able to offer our audience even more interesting experiences. We’re are very proud and happy to be creating a shared, ghostly and “horrific” project with the Syrena Theatre. “Beetlejuice” is a cinema hit known by generations. Now this story will appear on the stages of our theatres, so we can come back to it together.
Aleksandra Gajewska, the director of Teatr Rozrywki
– I’m very thrilled to be collaborating with Teatr Rozrywki in Chorzów and its team, which is equally crazy about musicals as is our team in Syrena – adds Jacek Mikołajczyk.
The casting process for the Warsaw cast will take place in October. The cast in Chorzów will be selected from the actors working in Teatr Rozrywki.
“Beetlejuice” creative team:
Libretto: Anthony King, Scott Brown
Music and song lyrics: Eddie Perfect
Direction and translation: Jacek Mikołajczyk
Musical direction: Tomasz Filipczak (Teatr Syrena), Michał Jańczyk (Teatr Rozrywki)
Set design: Mariusz Napierała
Costumes: Anna Adamek
Choreography: Barbara Olech
Light direction: Katarzyna Łuszczyk
The musical “Beetlejuice” will be presented under license from Music Theatre International.