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Polish Theatre Kiel

In 1983 a group of Polish actors, who had fled to the West after the imposition of martial law in Poland, founded the Polish Theatre in Kiel. After the first performance in Polish it was decided to perform in German in order to reach a larger audience. But when the majority of the actors then dispersed again, the actor Tadeusz Galia, who had played in theatres in Wrocław and Opole until 1982, took over as the artistic director. To this day, the Polish Theatre in Kiel has staged 87 plays by Eastern European and Western authors. Galia and his team are not interested in superficial entertainment, but rather in fundamental themes of human existence. A threat to the private theatre posed by a change of landlord has been averted at the last moment.

The Polish Theatre Kiel, August 2018

Porta Polonica 2018

After "Gimpel the Fool", a premiere of "Neues von Kellermanns" by Ursula Haucke (1924-2014), writer of screenplays, plays and radio plays in Berlin, opened in September 2018. Haucke became famous not only for her play "Frühstück bei Kellermanns", (premiered in 1982 and filmed in 2007), but also for the radio play series "Papa, Charly hat gesagt". In December, the one-person play "Ein ganz gewöhnlicher Jude" by the Swiss author Charles Lewinsky (*1946), played by Astrit Geci, will be staged: and in January 2019 the theatre will present a grotesque debut play entitled "Tod sind wir nicht" by Svenja Viola Bungarten (*1992) about the yearnings of two older women.

Lastly, the existence of the Polish Theatre Kiel was threatened in 1992, when a fire completely destroyed the theatre. But it was saved by donations from the citizens of Kiel and from public authorities. The building in Düppelstraße was recently inherited, and the theatre was closed down as part of a luxury renovation project. Daily harassment like the disconnection of the high-voltage electricity supply tore at the nerves of the theatre team. But everything has turned out well. The new lessor has agreed to a fresh ten-year lease and will probably also cover the costs of the electrical installations. If everything goes well, the Polish Theatre Kiel's invaluable contribution to over thirty-five years of vibrant theatre culture will be continued.

Axel Feuß, September 2018

A video film entitled “Leben für die Kunst” by Elisabeth Saggau on the work of the Polish Theatre Kiel containing scenes from rehearsals and shows as well as reminiscences by Tadeusz Galia (2012, 1 hour and 14 minutes) can be purchased in the theatre for a mere 10.00€.