Its surroundings include: The first staging activity in Bydgoszcz occurred in 1623 when Jesuit school students acted (singing and dialogues) to welcome King Sigismund III Vasa to the city, on his way to Gdańsk.

Besides, between 1773 and 1806, German professional theatre troupes started to tour: The period of Duchy of Warsaw (1807–1815) raised Bydgoszcz as the capital of the new administrative unit (Bydgoszcz Department), bringing a revival of cultural life: theatre troupes performances flourished on a stage built in the ex-Jesuit college building, in the facility of the Society "Harmony".

Amateurs (so-called "Social theatre"), but also professional companies presented plays for specific occasions (e.g. the birthday of Napoleon).

They presented, among others, Polish: Krakowiacy i Górale by Wojciech Bogusławski, and The Robbers (German: Die Räuber) by Friedrich Schiller.

The repertoire presented professional theatrical and opera troupes from Königsberg, Gdańsk, Poznań, with actors performing in German and Polish language.

Poles took part in all cultural events, as well as those organized by Prussia, and were also members of theatrical amateur teams of music and singing.

Following this trend, Poles in Bydgoszcz performed Krakowiacy i Górale by Wojciech Bogusławski on April 15, 1894 for the 10th anniversary of the Battle of Racławice, and celebrated the centenary of Adam Mickiewicz's birth on December 8, 1898, by staging his ballads and romances.

Meanwhile, diverse group of amateurs staged in various places, such as the garden of the tenement at 35 Dworcowa Street: there were performed celebrations in honor of Henryk Sienkiewicz (1916) and the centenary of Kosciuszko (1917).

The play, prepared within a month time, was held in the premises of the summer theatre "Elysium", which could only host 350 spectators and was lacking any proper professional equipment.

The same year, on November 5, the Chamber theatre in Grodzka Street was reopened as another city scene, initially conceived as a stage for cabaret-theatre.

Another festival, Camera Obscura, promoting documentary films, is held annually since 2004: it is organized by Bydgoszcz association Fundację Sztuki Art House.