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.