Laundry Room

Pionki, Poland, 2023, People with intellectual disabilities make up about 3% of the population of Poland. The same is true for Pionki, a town in Masovian Voivodeship in Poland. These persons could often be seen wandering the town's streets, prompting city authorities to establish the Center almost 25 years ago to provide them with the necessary assistance. A puppet theater was also created there, where they became actors. This marked the beginning of a new chapter for them. The theater is now located in a room that was formerly a laundry room, hence the name “Laundry Room”. The actor wears the puppet like a costume to give it personality and bring it to life. The Theater stages classic fairy tales like Cinderella and Snow White. Over all these years, they have prepared and developed eight different fairy tale performances and created numerous puppets. Most theater plays take place outdoors, primarily for children. The troupe also organizes street parades. Sometimes, they even travel across the country to present a show when invited. The Center's staff have created a close-knit team that functions like a family. They organize kayaking regattas and participate in for