Jerzy Grotowski

Jerzy Grotowski was a Polish theatre director and theorist who revolutionized the field of experimental theatre with his innovative approaches to acting, training and theatrical production. He founded the Laboratory Theatre in 1959 in Opole, Poland, where he directed and taught a group of actors and collaborators who became known for their physical and vocal mastery, as well as their emotional intensity and audience involvement. Grotowski's productions, such as Akropolis, The Constant Prince, and Apocalypsis Cum Figuris, were minimalist in form but rich in meaning, exploring the themes of human existence, spirituality, and transcendence. Grotowski also wrote and lectured extensively on his vision of theatre, which he called "poor theatre", meaning a theatre that relies on the actor's skills and presence rather than on costumes, props, or special effects. He influenced many subsequent theatre practitioners, such as Peter Brook, Eugenio Barba, and Robert Wilson, as well as the American experimental theatre movements of the 1960s and 1970s. In 1982, Grotowski left Poland and moved to the United States, where he continued his research and teaching at various universities and institutions. He also received a MacArthur Fellowship in 1984 for his contributions to the arts. In 1985, he settled in Pontedera, Italy, where he established the Grotowski Workcenter, a new centre for his theatre experimentation and practice. There, he developed new projects, such as Objective Drama, Art as Vehicle, and Action, which explored the connections between theatre, ritual, and culture. He also directed some private theatrical events, which were rarely seen by the public. Grotowski died in 1999 at his home in Pontedera, leaving behind a legacy of artistic excellence and innovation.