Lidia Wysocka(1916-2006)
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Polish stage and film actress, singer, cabaret performer and creative
director, theatre director and costume designer, editorialist.
Successfully debuted on film in 1935 (the song she performed was
available on soundtrack album released by Syrena Record in 1936) while
she was still studying acting under
Aleksander Zelwerowicz (who was
very reluctant to allow his students to start their acting career
before they finish school). Graduated Panstwowy Instytut Sztuki
Teatralnej (State Institute of Theatrical Arts, Warsaw) in 1936.
Debuted on stage in Polish Theatre in Warsaw in 1936 (with Dickens'
"The Pickwick Papers", as Mary), where she performed until the war
(see: other works). Her roles were a proof of her versatility, as she
would find herself both in drama and comedy.
The production of her 9th movie, "Szczescie przychodzi kiedy chce"
(directed by Mieczyslaw Krawicz ) was
canceled by the outbreak of World War 2.
As most of the actors who boycotted German-controlled theaters during
the war, she had to find another way to make a living: she worked as
waitress in "Na Antresoli" café, this also meant giving performances
alongside other artists. That place was also a contact point for Polish
resistance. She was taken hostage by Gestapo and held in the Pawiak
prison (her husband Zbigniew Sawan ended
up in Auschwitz camp) as a result of German retaliatory action for the
Polish resistance assassination of the Nazi spy
Igo Sym, her co-star from
Zlota maska (1940) (she also rejected
his offers to start working for German UFA, at that time dealing mostly
with pro-Nazi propaganda movies).
After the war she started performing in Teatr Maly in Warsaw alongside
her husband, later also in Miniatura Theatre in Warsaw and Teatr Nowy.
They moved next (1947-1949) to Polish Theatre in Szczecin, where Sawan
would take the manager seat. The couple returned to Warsaw in 1949 and
started working in Ludowy Theatre: Sawan again as manager, while she
started directing plays. She had spent the years 1951-1953 in Buffo
revue theatre, what launched her career as cabaret star.
In 1956 she created the "Wagabunda" cabaret, which gathered such actors
and satirists as Edward Dziewonski,
Jacek Fedorowicz,
Bogumil Kobiela,
Maria Koterbska,
Wieslaw Michnikowski,
Stanislaw Tym,
Jeremi Przybora,
Mieczyslaw Wojnicki,
Zbigniew Cybulski, Marian Zalucki.
Popular in Poland, it also toured USA (1957), Canada, Great Britain,
Israel and Czechoslovakia. She was its art director and also performed
sung poetry or versions of popular songs with Polish lyrics. During
that time (1961) she made a guest appearance in Regnier's play "Les
Petites Tetes" in Comedy Theatre, Warsaw. After "Wagabunda" dissolved
in 1968 she had problem finding work in Warsaw theaters despite her
experience and fame. Finally she found her way to the stage of Syrena
Theatre in Warsaw, where she played in revues in 1974 through 1981.
After W obronie wlasnej (1982)
she was to star in another movie, but it was stuck in a pre-production
limbo.
During her career she also worked with Polish public broadcaster
Polskie Radio, taking part in concertos and other broadcasts. She
appeared in radio dramas already in late 1930s; listeners of Program 1
station could still catch her in 1980s & 1990s reading her own
editorials on cultural news, displaying literary and satirical talent.
People she worked with describe her as a hard-working and demanding
professional, elegant and well mannered, brilliant and with a great
sense of humor.
director, theatre director and costume designer, editorialist.
Successfully debuted on film in 1935 (the song she performed was
available on soundtrack album released by Syrena Record in 1936) while
she was still studying acting under
Aleksander Zelwerowicz (who was
very reluctant to allow his students to start their acting career
before they finish school). Graduated Panstwowy Instytut Sztuki
Teatralnej (State Institute of Theatrical Arts, Warsaw) in 1936.
Debuted on stage in Polish Theatre in Warsaw in 1936 (with Dickens'
"The Pickwick Papers", as Mary), where she performed until the war
(see: other works). Her roles were a proof of her versatility, as she
would find herself both in drama and comedy.
The production of her 9th movie, "Szczescie przychodzi kiedy chce"
(directed by Mieczyslaw Krawicz ) was
canceled by the outbreak of World War 2.
As most of the actors who boycotted German-controlled theaters during
the war, she had to find another way to make a living: she worked as
waitress in "Na Antresoli" café, this also meant giving performances
alongside other artists. That place was also a contact point for Polish
resistance. She was taken hostage by Gestapo and held in the Pawiak
prison (her husband Zbigniew Sawan ended
up in Auschwitz camp) as a result of German retaliatory action for the
Polish resistance assassination of the Nazi spy
Igo Sym, her co-star from
Zlota maska (1940) (she also rejected
his offers to start working for German UFA, at that time dealing mostly
with pro-Nazi propaganda movies).
After the war she started performing in Teatr Maly in Warsaw alongside
her husband, later also in Miniatura Theatre in Warsaw and Teatr Nowy.
They moved next (1947-1949) to Polish Theatre in Szczecin, where Sawan
would take the manager seat. The couple returned to Warsaw in 1949 and
started working in Ludowy Theatre: Sawan again as manager, while she
started directing plays. She had spent the years 1951-1953 in Buffo
revue theatre, what launched her career as cabaret star.
In 1956 she created the "Wagabunda" cabaret, which gathered such actors
and satirists as Edward Dziewonski,
Jacek Fedorowicz,
Bogumil Kobiela,
Maria Koterbska,
Wieslaw Michnikowski,
Stanislaw Tym,
Jeremi Przybora,
Mieczyslaw Wojnicki,
Zbigniew Cybulski, Marian Zalucki.
Popular in Poland, it also toured USA (1957), Canada, Great Britain,
Israel and Czechoslovakia. She was its art director and also performed
sung poetry or versions of popular songs with Polish lyrics. During
that time (1961) she made a guest appearance in Regnier's play "Les
Petites Tetes" in Comedy Theatre, Warsaw. After "Wagabunda" dissolved
in 1968 she had problem finding work in Warsaw theaters despite her
experience and fame. Finally she found her way to the stage of Syrena
Theatre in Warsaw, where she played in revues in 1974 through 1981.
After W obronie wlasnej (1982)
she was to star in another movie, but it was stuck in a pre-production
limbo.
During her career she also worked with Polish public broadcaster
Polskie Radio, taking part in concertos and other broadcasts. She
appeared in radio dramas already in late 1930s; listeners of Program 1
station could still catch her in 1980s & 1990s reading her own
editorials on cultural news, displaying literary and satirical talent.
People she worked with describe her as a hard-working and demanding
professional, elegant and well mannered, brilliant and with a great
sense of humor.