On the sculpture trail: Heidi Kabel bronze statue in Hamburg

Heidi Bertha Auguste Kabel (1914-2010) was an admired German stage actress and musician ranking high in popularity within the folk theater scene and its audience. On stage and through television shows she became a legend due to her charming Low German dialect (Niederdeutsch, Plattdeutsch, Hamburger Platt), entertaining humor and slapstick performances as well as her socially engaging you-and-me presence—on and off stage. Between 1954 and 1998 she hit the spotlight in more than 250 plays—many of them performed in Hamburg's Ohnsorg-Theater, which is dedicated to the Low German dialect [1-3].

A bronze statue in Heidi's honor has been erected next to the Central Train Station (Hauptbahnhof) at the north side of a plaza, which has been named after her: Heidi-Kabel Platz [4]. The text underneath the sign explains that it is named  “after Heidi Kabel (1914-2010). throughout the federal republic, popular folk-play actress at the Ohnsorg-Theater between 1932 and 1996, gaining popularity due to television broadcasting since 1954, already a highly admired Legend of Hamburg during her time of life.” 

Heidi Kabel became famous as a “Hamburger Deern” (Low German for Girl of Hamburg). Performing more like a girl or woman from next door than a distant actress diva, she made people cry, smile, laugh and reflect on themselves. I still remember her scenes in an apron dress and with a broom in her hand—ready to make a clean sweep. So, when you will visit the city of Hamburg or happen to have an overlay while switching trains, visit the plaza and shake hands with her.

More to see in Hamburg:

• nearby Museum of Arts & Crafts (Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe)
• Alsterfleet and arcades (Alsterarkaden)
• River-front construction of the Philharmonic Hall (Elbphilharmonie)

Keywords: folk theater, entertainment, Low German language, history.

References and more to explore
[1] The People Lexicon, Who's Who, Deutschland: Heidi Kabel | Biografie [www.whoswho.de/templ/te_bio.php?PID=294&RID=1].
[2] Stern: “Heidi, du nicht!” [www.stern.de/kultur/film/heidi-kabel-tot-heidi-du-nicht-1574257.html].
[3] Carsten Wittmaack and Jan Hinnerk Mahler: Sag zum Leben. Militzke Verlag, Leipzig, 2004 [www.militzke.de/sachbuch_krimi/show_article_detail.php?id=7040].
[4] Sehenswürdigkeiten: Heidi-Kabel-Platz [www.hamburg.de/sehenswuerdigkeiten/3320686/heidi-kabel-platz.html].