Stage and film actor, teacher at the National Academy of Theatre Arts in Warsaw, before the war a friend of Schulz.
Born 14 March 1909 in Mościskanear Lviv, died 26 May 2005 in Skolimów (Konstancin-Jeziorna). She made her debut on 30 September, 1930 in Karol Hubert Rostworowski’s play titled Niespodzianka (Surprise) at the Municipal Theatre (Teatr Miejski) in Cracow. After the outbreak of World War IIshe acted at the Theater on Pohulanka Street (Teatr na Pohulance) in Vilnius and at the Volhynia Theater (Teatr Ziemi Wołyńskiej).
She met Schulz in the summer of 1926 in Zakopane*, as a secondary school student. They occupied neighbouring rooms in “Piast”*. “We found a certain closeness quite quickly – writes Drohockain a letter to Jerzy Ficowski* from 5 June 1948 – whichincluded a few more people”, probably Władysław Riff* and Stanisław Weingarten* (his name may be found on a list of newly arrived guests in Głos Zakopiański from 14 August). Schulz’s portrait of Halina Drohocka is proof of their friendship. She remembered that in the evenings Schulz would tell fanstastical tales to the gathered vacationers. One of them was a story of a rusałka [a folkloric female entity] – Drohocka’s alter ego– who unexpectedly turns into a salamander.
Remembered by her, Schulz was “a very timid, quiet man”, as if “detached from reality”, having a fascinating imagination, which constituted the most important part of his personality. “He always seemed to be someone outside life” – writes Drohocka. After a short period in 1926 their contact was not sustained, limited only to irregular correspondence (now lost) and a few meetings, of which not much is known.
After the war Halina Drohocka continued her acting career. For several decades she appeared at theaters in Łódź, Wrocławand Warsaw, and also in radio plays on Polish radio and in films. For many years she continued to teach at the National Academy of Theater Arts in Warsaw.
In 1948 her correspndence with Jerzy Ficowski began. Ficowski’s archive includes her three letters about Schulz and three poems by Władysław Riff in her handwriting. (jo)
See also: July–August 1926*, July–August 1927*, 25 December 1927*, Schulz in Zakopane*.
