198 Pages
    by Routledge

    198 Pages
    by Routledge

    Master director, teacher, and theorist, Jerzy Grotowski’s work extended well beyond the conventional limits of performance. Now revised and reissued, this book combines:

    ● an overview of Grotowski’s life and the distinct phases of his work

    ● an analysis of his key ideas

    ● a consideration of his role as director of the renowned Polish Laboratory Theatre

    ● a series of practical exercises offering an introduction to the principles underlying Grotowski’s working methods.

    As a first step towards critical understanding, and an initial exploration before going on to further, primary research, Routledge Performance Practitioners offer unbeatable value for today’s student.

    1. BIOGRAPHY AND CONTEXT

        Grotowski’s formative years

         Theatre of Productions (1959–69)

        Theatre of Participation/Paratheatre (1969–78)

        Theatre of Sources (1976–82)

        Objective Drama (1983–6)

        Ritual Arts or Art as Vehicle (1986–99)

         

    2. GROTOWSKI’S KEY WRITINGS

        "Towards a PoorTheatre" (1965)

        "Skara Speech" (1966)

        "Holiday" [Swieto] "The day that is holy" (1970, 1971, 1972)

        "Theatre of Sources" (1997) 73 "Tu es le fils de quelqu’un (You are someone’s son)" (1989)

        "Performer" (1988)

        Summary  

         

    3. GROTOWSKI AS DIRECTOR

        Grotowski in rehearsal

         Grotowski and the actor

        Analysis of a key production: Akropolis

        Description of key scenes from Akropolis 

        Paratheatre events

        Action: the final opus

        PRACTICAL EXERCISES

    Preparations

    The actor’s body

    The actor’s presence: to see

     Untaming

    Precision

    Coordination and rhythm 

     The actor’s voice: to listen

    The actor’s score: to do 

     The actor’s partner: to meet

    Afterword

    Biography

    James Slowiak is Professor of Theatre Arts at the University of Akron, USA and co-artistic director of New World Performance Laboratory. He assisted Jerzy Grotowski in the Objective Drama Program at the University of California-Irvine and in Italy from 1983–1989.

    Jairo Cuesta is co-artistic director of New World Performance Laboratory. He collaborated with Jerzy Grotowski on Theatre of Sources and the Objective Drama Program from 1976–1986.