The People behind KOLK 17
What does a cultural institution focused on the performing arts look like in the future? For KOLK 17, the answer lies in multidisciplinary collaboration: puppeteers and theorists working hand in hand.
Our Team
Puppet theater – a global art form – how do we best care for it? Our team includes puppeteers, scholars, organizers, and masters of chaos, each bringing a unique set of skills and passions. Our international partners are essential to us, helping shape exhibitions and performances. Most team members here in Lübeck haven’t always worked in museums or theaters; they came from entirely different fields – electrician, gilder, archivist, historian, security chief, building savings specialist, or executive at a marketing agency – each contributing their skills and experiences to the success of KOLK 17.
Yet, they all share one thing: a passion for learning and continuous development, enriching puppet theater with fresh perspectives and up-to-date knowledge. Through professional qualifications, specialized training, or self-guided learning, each team member brings not only their individual experiences but also a commitment to personal and professional growth. A shared fascination for the art of puppet theater, a connection to our space, and the belief that, in our small way, we contribute to something greater – this is what unites our unique team!
Our Management
Dr. Antonia Napp – Managing Director
Dr. Antonia Napp studied Art History, Russian Literature, and Ancient Greek Literature at the universities of Freiburg and Vienna. After completing her doctorate in Freiburg on 18th-century Russian art and working at various museums and art institutions in northern Germany with a focus on contemporary art, she took over as director of the Theater Figures Museum in Lübeck in 2015.
In 2021, under her leadership and that of Stephan Schlafke, the Theater Figures Museum and Lübeck Puppet Theater merged into a single institution: KOLK 17 Puppet Theater & Museum. Since then, the expertise of both institutions has contributed to developing KOLK 17 as a national and international platform for puppet theater.
Napp is actively involved in networking within the puppet theater community in Germany and internationally, including the federally funded project KompleXX Figurentheater. In addition to regularly publishing on the subject of puppet theater, Antonia Napp is a member of the editorial team for UNIMA Germany's official magazine, DaT - Das andere Theater.
Stephan Schlafke – Puppet Theatre Director
Stephan Schlafke, born in Berlin, was a co-founder and director of the 'Berlin Marionette Theater' ensemble (1986–2008), where he also designed puppets and scenography for evening performances. He attended seminars on voice training, puppet construction, and performance at the Freie Bildungsstätte für Puppenspiel in Idstedt/Schleswig-Holstein, in Berlin, and at the 'Little Angel Marionette Theatre' in London (with Benita and P. K. Steinmann, Dieter Kieselstein, Eric Bass, John Wright, among others). Today, he leads workshops on puppet manipulation and marionette performance.
From 2003 to 2015, Schlafke served as the Chair of the German branch of the Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA) and is an editorial team member for the specialist journals Das andere Theater and notebook, also helping organize German Puppet Theater Conferences.
In 2007, he took on the artistic direction of 'FIGURENTHEATER LÜBECK' gGmbH and is part of the ensemble of the KOBALT Puppet Theater Lübeck, KOLK 17’s cooperative partner, with 18 family and nine evening performances in its repertoire.
Currently, Stephan Schlafke is the Puppet Theater Director at KOLK 17, serves on the board of the Schleswig-Holstein Association of Independent Performing Arts, and is the Vice Chair of the German Association of Puppet Theaters.
Marie-Louise Arndt – Head of Administration
Marie-Louise Arndt studied Nordic Languages and Children’s Culture at Stockholm University. After completing her master’s degree, she worked as a producer at a Hamburg production company, which she went on to manage in 2008. In 2014, she also took on the management of a sister company, a creative agency, before moving in 2016 to the parent company, POPULAR GROUP GmbH, as CFO and authorized officer.
A change in industry and location led her to KOLK 17 in 2021. Since then, she has complemented the institution’s leadership as Administrative Director—serving as an authorized officer since 2023. She enriches the KOLK 17 team as a networker, both externally, such as within the network of administrative directors of German museums, and within the team itself. Her talent lies in bringing people together in creative, constructive dialogue, linking internal areas such as Outreach, Theater, Museum, and Marketing.
In addition to her role at KOLK 17, Ms. Arndt is also personally involved in Lübeck's cultural scene.
