One year has passed since the passing of prof. Jerzy Limon, an Anglicist, literary scholar, theatre scholar and director of the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre. The University of Gdańsk is planning, together with the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre, to prepare events to honour Professor's memory.

- 'We still feel the pain that he is not with us. We want his memory to remain with the University forever. That is why in May we have planned, among other things, an exhibition showing the influence of Shakespeare on the work of Daniel Chodowiecki and a ceremony naming the Theatre Hall in the Neophilology building after prof. Jerzy Limon. The latter event will be voted on at the next meeting of the Senate,’ - says Rector prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski.

The University is undertaking these activities jointly with the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre - the brainchild of the Professor.

We will keep you informed about the events on our website.

Memories of prof. Jerzy Limon from 03.03.2021:

- 'Prof. Jerzy Limon was a friend of many staff members, not only from English or American Studies,' says dr hab. Urszula Patocka-Sigłowy, prof. UG, Dean of the Faculty of Philology UG. - 'This is a great loss for the university. Philologists will miss him very much,' - she adds. Moved by the news of his passing away, she finds it difficult to think about the future of the department without him. - 'It is difficult to collect thoughts because for us he was a true Master, a Teacher, but also a fantastic colleague who baked a wonderful cheesecake. The Dean recalls how the Professor's personality, energy and passion could infect his colleagues and co-workers.' - 'His unparalleled strength, in some magical way, was transferred to others. He was the initiator of many events, not only within the Faculty but also outside of it.'

Professor was a graduate of the First High School in Sopot and the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. He earned further academic degrees of PhD and PhD habilitation. He was affiliated with the University of Gdańsk and its Faculty of Philology, where he became head of the Department of the History of British Literature and Culture. He lectured in Polish and English. He was a member of the Polish Writers' Association and ZAiKS, a member of the national correspondent of the Philological Faculty of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Author of many scientific books, articles, reviews, essays and popular science sketches printed in Poland and Europe. His output also included novels and translations of ancient (William Shakespeare) and contemporary (Tom Stoppard) plays.

Prof. Jerzy Limon was president of the Theatrum Gedanense Foundation and later director of the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre.

He has won many awards at home and abroad. In 2006 he was awarded the Gloria Artis Silver Medal for Meritorious Service to Culture and the Award of the Mayor of the City of Gdańsk in the Field of Culture. In the same year, he received the Jan Hevelius Science Award of the City of Gdańsk. In 2011 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, and in 2014, for his services to Polish-British cultural cooperation, he was awarded the Honorary Order of the British Empire with the rank of Officer (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II. In 2015 he was awarded the Jerzmanowskis' Prize, awarded by the Polish Academy of Learning. In the same year, he was also awarded the St. Adalbert Medal. In 2016 he was awarded the title Man of the Year 2015 by the editors of Dziennik Bałtycki. In 2019 in Stratford, Shakespeare's hometown, prof. Jerzy Limon received the international Pragnell Shakespeare Award for outstanding achievements in popularising and advancing knowledge of the works of William Shakespeare.

Prof. Jerzy Limon in '50 meetings for the 50th anniversary of the University of Gdańsk' published by the University of Gdańsk:

'Sometimes an accident, a twist of fate decides that suddenly humanist scholars find themselves outside their peaceful world. Only then do they discover that the world on the other side is completely different from the one they have imagined from their reading and their own deliberations.'

We invite you to read the whole article 'Teatr jakiego nie ma' by prof. Jerzy Limon.

Gdansk Shakespeare Theatre website