Soundpainting
Poland
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Soundpainting Poland Teatr Trajektoria

A performance
composed
by gesture.

only in Poland

A multidisciplinary language for creating live performance. Musicians, actors, dancers and visual artists create together, inspired and led by the Soundpainter.

Join a workshop See us on stage
Act IWhat is Soundpainting

A sign language
for the whole stage.

Soundpainting is a universal sign language for composing live. It was created by Walter Thompson in New York in 1974. Today it is used by musicians, actors, dancers and visual artists all over the world.

The Soundpainter stands in front of the ensemble and, with gestures, composes a piece that does not exist yet. The artists respond with material from their own disciplines: sound, movement, words, drawing, projection. The only thing agreed in advance is a shared knowledge of the Soundpainting language. Everything else is created live, never to be repeated.

1974
New York. Walter Thompson creates the language.
1500+
gestures in the Soundpainting vocabulary.
1×
We play every show only once.

“So let’s start doing Soundpainting in Poland too.”

Mateusz P. Barczyk, in the film
Fig. 1What is Soundpainting? Mateusz P. Barczyk explains it in 100 seconds.English subtitles in the film — you can watch without sound.

Gestures — a few of more than 1,500

Every sign is an instruction for the ensemble. Here are a few of them.

  1. Mateusz P. Barczyk shows the Relate To gesture: the index fingers of both hands pointing at each other

    01Relate To

    A performer relates to another performer in any way: support, contrast, something tangential.

  2. Mateusz P. Barczyk shows the Actor gesture: one hand raised, the other on his chest

    02Actor

    All actors, or one particular actor.

  3. Mateusz P. Barczyk shows the Whole Group gesture: arms above his head, hands joined in an arch

    03Whole Group

    The whole ensemble of performers (excluding the Soundpainter).

  4. Mateusz P. Barczyk shows the Minimalism gesture: forearms level, hands hanging down and joined

    04Minimalism

    Continuous repetition of a short phrase or sequence, without change (approx. 3 sec.). Actors: words or sounds; dancers: movements; musicians: sounds; visual artists: images, etc.

Act IIWorkshops

You don’t need to know how to play. Just watch.

We run Soundpainting workshops and we can teach you the language too. The same gesture works on stage, in a classroom and in a training room.

Soundpainting is therefore a language that can be used in almost any discipline. For creating performances, but also for education, play and performance in the broadest sense.

A workshop rehearsal on an empty stage, participants in everyday clothes
Fig. 2 Rehearsal. No costumes, no sheet music.

I

What it’s good for

  • Listening and attentiveness
  • Communication in a group
  • Leading and following
  • Creativity and courage on stage
  • Team building
  • Education, play, performance
  • Openness to experience
  • Readiness to work with abstraction
  • Applied improvisation

II

What it looks like

We start with a few simple signs and discover how, already at the first session, knowing just a handful of signs, we can create quality material while having a great time. Soon the whole group is creating together, live.

You don’t need any stage or musical experience. Attentiveness is enough.

III

Who it’s for

  • Groups
  • Companies
  • NGOs
  • Schools
  • Artistic ensembles
  • Festivals

And for anyone who gets in touch.

Organise a workshop for your group, company or organisation.

Get in touch — write or call, and together we’ll agree on the format and date.

Invite us
Act IIIShows

Every evening we play only once.

We perform Soundpainting shows composed live — by gesture, here and now. No two are ever the same.

Next show

08.11

2026 · Sunday · 18:10

Trajektorie Teatru Festival 2026

Katowice

An evening that exists in no script. Music, movement, words and images — composed live by gesture, this one time only.

Buy tickets
A dark stage, the Soundpainter in a beam of light, a drawing created live on the screen
Fig. 3 The drawing is created live, together with the music.
The ensemble sits in a row in front of the projection, raising their hands
Fig. 4 The ensemble performs Minimalism.
Performers applauding and celebrating after the show
Fig. 5 The bow. This evening will never happen again.

  • On stage

    Music, movement, words and drawing composed in front of the audience.

  • On the road

    We take our shows to festivals. Invite us to yours.

  • In Katowice

    This is where you can see us live — come to the next evening.

You’ll also find us on social media.

IntermissionGallery

We play a lot, often, and every time differently.

20 frames · hover to switch on the light· scroll to switch on the light

Performers gliding across the floor with outstretched hands
A performer holding her head and laughing
The audience laughing during a show
Hands drawing live at a table with a lamp
Portrait of a bearded performer in half-light
The whole stage: ensemble, musicians and a drawing created live on the screen
Silhouette of the Soundpainter against the projection
The ensemble in clouds of smoke, performers on their knees
A performer reaching out through a streak of smoke
The Soundpainter alone on stage, a streak of smoke beside him
The Soundpainter with raised hands in front of the ensemble, a spiral drawing on the screen
A performer’s face in blue light
Two performers embracing on the stage floor
A performer smiling and giving a thumbs-up
The audience in the warm light of the hall
Rehearsal on stage in front of rows of red seats
Workshop rehearsal — the leader seen from behind
A performer in a deep bend on stage
The ensemble on stage in smoke, some lying on the floor
Two performers in profile

Photos: Jakub Karaś, Łukasz Sieworek

SoundpainterThe one who leads
Mateusz P. Barczyk with his index finger raised — the Soundpainter’s gesture

Mateusz P. Barczyk

Certified Soundpainter · Teatr Trajektoria

Mateusz P. Barczyk – improviser, actor, psychologist and drama educator. Founder and head trainer at Trajektoria. Director at Teatr Trajektoria.

  • Worked in the corporate world for a while, because he didn’t believe things could be different. He loves art and loves teaching, so he teaches art.
  • The first and only certified Soundpainter in Poland.
  • Graduate in drama education from the University of Warsaw, in psychology from Humanitas University and in creative writing from the University of Silesia.
  • Teaches drama and psychology in English at Zespół Szkół Prywatnych (a private school) in Katowice.
  • Performs at Teatr A Part and is active in the „W Swoim Żywiole” (In Your Element) Foundation.
  • Writes and publishes poetry and prose.
Soundpainting Letter of Certification — Level 1 for Mateusz P. Barczyk, signed by Walter Thompson, the creator of Soundpainting, August 2026

Certificate · August 2026

Certified Soundpainter.

Soundpainting Letter of Certification — Level 1, signed by Walter Thompson, the creator of Soundpainting.

It qualifies Mateusz to teach the first level of the language in education — the 43 basic signs.

View the certificate

A bow to Walter Thompson — the creator of Soundpainting and Mateusz’s teacher. soundpainting.com 

Led by

  • Mateusz P. Barczyk

    Soundpainter · head trainer

EpilogueTeatr Trajektoria
The Teatr Trajektoria stage: actors holding scripts during a festival event
Fig. 6 The Trajektoria stage. Photo: Teatr Trajektoria archive.

Soundpainting Poland was born at Trajektoria.

Soundpainting Poland is a project of Teatr Trajektoria from Katowice — a theatre that brings the stage and education together.

Trajektoria also runs acting, improvisation and public-speaking workshops, stages shows and organises the Trajektorie Teatru Festival. You’re welcome at Teatr Trajektoria’s other artistic and educational activities.

Discover Teatr Trajektoria

Invite us

Let’s step onto your stage.

A workshop for your group, company or organisation? A show at your venue? Write or call — we’ll get back to you.

E-mail

soundpainting.pl@gmail.com

Phone

+48 600 994 488 Mateusz Barczyk

Soundpainting Letter of Certification — Level 1 for Mateusz P. Barczyk, signed by Walter Thompson, August 2026