The author of the article writes about situation of the institutional and non-institutional theaters in Białystok. Besides having long tradition and groups of experienced specialists institutional theaters, there is more and more prosperous amateur theaters, alternative theaters, groups without their own halls, financial means and scene equipment. In the result of dissatisfaction actors pass on permanent engagement and create their own groups making their dreams come true. In the article it is also written about any achievements of the given groups and the ways of their evaluation. What is more, the author of the article analyses these theaters taking into consideration such factors as legal organizational structure and the rules for operating. The author shows the diffi culties which can be faced by amateur theaters, searches for the roots of them and tries to find the possibility of evaluation such groups.