The voice of the Polish speaking clock, launched in 1936, belonged to Lidia Wysocka, a versatile performer whose career spanned stage, film, and cabaret. Born in 1916 in Rahachow, she navigated the complexities of twentieth-century Polish performance through a dedication to both classical acting and the innovative, satirical spirit of the Wagabunda cabaret.
Early Career and Education
Wysocka studied at the National Institute of Theatre Arts of Warsaw under Aleksander Zelwerowicz, graduating in 1936. Before completing her studies, she gained public recognition as a finalist in a 1933 Kino magazine beauty contest. Her film debut occurred in 1935, and by 1936, she had secured a three-year contract at the Polish Theatre in Warsaw. Beyond acting, her voice became a fixture of Polish media, including early radio serials and the 1934 dubbing of Madeleine Carroll in I Was a Spy.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →World War II and Resistance
During the German occupation of Poland, Wysocka participated in the boycott of German-controlled theatres. She worked as a waitress at the Na Antresoli café and refused offers to collaborate with the UFA film studio. Her resistance led to her arrest by the Gestapo in 1941, resulting in her imprisonment at the Pawiak facility. Her husband, Zbigniew Sawan, was sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp following the assassination of the Nazi spy Igo Sym.
Post-war Theatre and Directing
Following the war, Wysocka and Sawan performed at the Teatr Mały and Teatr Miniatura in Warsaw. Between 1947 and 1949, they worked at the Polish Theatre in Szczecin, where she expanded her professional scope into directing and costume design. Her theatrical repertoire included roles in works by Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and George Bernard Shaw. In 1956, she founded the Wagabunda cabaret, a platform blending musical performance, satire, and stand-up comedy.
Awards and Legacy
Wysocka's career in film included roles in works such as Irena do domu! and Zaczarowane podwórko. Her contributions to Polish culture were formally recognized through honors including the Gold Cross of Merit, the Badge of the 1000th Anniversary of the Polish State, and the title of Zasłużony Działacz Kultury. In 1999, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Polonia Restituta. She died in 2006 in Warsaw.
Fast facts
- Born: 1916, Rahachow
- Died: 2006, Warsaw
- Education: National Institute of Theatre Arts of Warsaw
- Language: Polish
- Known for: Voice of the 1936 Polish speaking clock
- Key Award: Officer of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1999)
Questions readers ask
Did Lidia Wysocka work during the German occupation?
She actively boycotted German-controlled theatres and worked as a café waitress before being imprisoned at Pawiak by the Gestapo in 1941.
What was the Wagabunda cabaret?
Founded by Wysocka in 1956, it was a performance group that combined music, theatre, and political satire.
Achievements
- Officer of the Order of Polonia Restituta — 1999
- Worked as singer, stage actor and film actor