Maria Końska-Chmielecki. Puppets, passion and Polish traditions

Comments on the 15th anniversary of the “Offene Augen” puppet theatre in 2008

Andrzej Kaczorowski 
Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Cologne (2006–2009)

In the name of the consulate general of the Republic of Poland in Cologne, my heartfelt congratulations to the “Offene Augen” puppet theatre on its 15th birthday. In the past few years, what began with an idea on 6 December 1992 has become a fixture. The “Offene Augen” puppet theatre is now an educational and cultural institution in Bielefeld, and one that is likely to be a source of envy among many other German cities. 

In countless projects, “Offene Augen” encourages cultural exchange between Germany and Poland and works constantly to intensify it. In numerous theatre groups for children and young adults, participants not only playfully learn how to treat each other, but also to respect their own culture and the culture of the country next door. For many people, the theatre opens their eyes not only to culture, but also to their fellow human beings. They come into contact with Polish history, Polish traditions and not least with the Polish language. These experiences are the best advertisement for Poland. For me, the work of the theatre is a matter of the heart.

My deepest respect and thanks therefore go to the “Offene Augen” puppet theatre, and to Ms Maria Chmielecki in particular, for broadening the friendship between Germany and Poland – in the past, in the present and no doubt also in the future. I look forward to further projects by the theatre and wish you every success for the future.

Eberhard David 
Mayor of the city of Bielefeld (1999–2009)

On behalf of the city of Bielefeld, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the “Offene Augen” puppet theatre. From the very start, the theatre’s mission has been not only to bring the joy of puppet theatre to the citizens of Bielefeld, and in so doing to contribute to the cultural diversity of our city, but also to promote cultural exchange between two neighbours: Poland and Germany.

The “Offene Augen” puppet theatre has brought German plays to Polish audiences and vice-versa. As “cultural ambassadors”, the members of the theatre have travelled many paths and have become acquainted with people, cities and countries. To this extent, the theatre and its plays have always been an ambassador for Bielefeld. The “Offene Augen” puppet theatre has also been involved in our project linking the twin cities of Bielefeld and Rzeszów, for example by participating in an international theatre festival in our Polish partner city and forging many friendships there.

My heartfelt thanks go to the “Offene Augen” puppet theatre for its 15 years of dedicated cultural work in Bielefeld and far beyond our city’s borders. The theatre has been and still remains not only a precious asset in the cultural life of Bielefeld, but has also helped foster the cultural relations promoted by our city.

I therefore wish the “Offene Augen” puppet theatre and all those who work on, in front of or behind the stage many more successful years and an ever enthusiastic audience.

Brigitte Brand 
Head of the Department of Culture in Bielefeld (to date)

I welcome the opportunity to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Maria Końska-Chmielecki and her family, which in her own words also includes her puppet theatre, on the theatre’s birthday. When I first watched a performance by the theatre, Ms Maria Końska-Chmielecki did not play with puppets at all, but with children in a school. 

This flexibility and creativity, and above all the warm-heartedness and palpable enjoyment of her work, are what make the “Offene Augen” puppet theatre special. In a lyrical, comical way, with figures created with loving care, the Teatr Lalki i Aktora “Otwarte Oczy” not only runs projects in many schools in Bielefeld, but also in other parts of the city and even in more than one language in France and Poland. Perhaps it is because of the Końska-Chmielecki family’s own bi-cultural experience that the theatre also strikes a particular chord with children with a migration background.

Experiencing culture, particularly the theatre, really does open children’s eyes, especially when they are actively involved. These experiences equip them with new ways of responding to their everyday experiences and make an important contribution to the development of their social skills. Quite aside from the joy that Ms Końska-Chmielecki’s puppet theatre brings to so many children, it is a valuable asset for the children of our city in this respect, too.

Thank you, “Offene Augen” puppet theatre, for all your good work, and I wish you many successful years ahead!

Angelika Dopheide 
Honorary member of the presidium of the Arbeiterwohlfahrt Kreisverband Bielefeld e.V. / Mayor of Bielefeld (1994–1999)

Congratulations! The Arbeiterwohlfahrt Kreisverband Bielefeld e.V. offers its heartfelt congratulations to the “Offene Augen” theatre on its 15th birthday. It is thanks to Ms Chmielecki’s dedicated hard work that it has been possible to realise theatre projects in various all-day schools in Bielefeld. The world of theatre was introduced into the schools and the children had the opportunity to experience being on stage for the first time. 

The carefully selected plays offered the young actors new perspectives. The Little Prince carried them off to far away planets and introduced them to different characters. At the vegetable stall, the children turned into onions, leeks and peppers. In “Der kleine König Macius” (“The Little King Macius”), the children learned that ruling a country isn’t an easy task, and that the person on the throne has to deal with many different demands which cannot all be met at the same time. The locomotive took the children on a journey to different regions. The plays were performed in the schools for the other pupils and the parents. 

Ms Chmielecki also organised performances for larger audiences. For example, the children at the public full-time primary school in Stieghorst performed the Little Prince on stage at the Wackelpeter children’s culture festival. This enabled many citizens of Bielefeld to share the joy of working in the theatre. Our heartfelt thanks go to Ms Chmielecki for her outstanding collaborative work. We already look forward to many more exciting projects with the children.

Further reading:

Kaluza, Andrzej: Offene Augen. Polnisches Puppentheater made in Bielefeld, in: Polnische Spuren in Deutschland. Ein Lesebuchlexikon, ed. by: Dieter Bingen, Andrzej Kaluza, Basil Kerski, Peter Oliver Loew, Bonn 2018, p. 273 (Polish edition: Otwarte Oczy. Polski teatr lalek “made in Bielefeld”, in: Polskie ślady w Niemczech. Kalejdoskop, Bonn 2022, p. 259).

Instagram: 

Maria Końska-Chmielecki – https://www.instagram.com/ptoffeneaugen/