Mandatory Credit: Photo by Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock (8965093aw) Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge visit Gdansk Shakespeare Theatre Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge visit to Poland - 18 Jul 2017 Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge visit Gdansk Shakespeare theatre, of which The Prince of Wales is Patron. During the seventeenth century there was a large English-speaking community based in Gdansk, which made the city an important destination for travelling English players. The Shakespeare Theatre opened in 2014, and is home to the city's annual Shakespeare festival, attended by theatre-lovers from around the world. The Theatre has an adaptable auditorium which allows for three different sized stages, and a retractable roof. Their Royal Highnesses will see the roof opening during a special performance, before attending a small reception inside the theatre for Poles from the world of arts, culture and media.