Jerzy Grotowski
Short Biography
Jerzy Grotowski [1933-1999]
Innovative Polish - born in Rzeszow - theatre director, teacher,
and drama theorist, with an important influence on the development
of modern theater. Author of "Towards a Poor Theatre
Grotowski, was one of Peter Brook's
major influences, was an advocate of stripping away the surface
trappings, thus creating a ritualistic, "bare-bones" theatre.
After studying in Cracow and Moscow, he founded the Theatre of 13
Rows in Opole (1956-64), which moved to Wroc as the
Laboratory Theatre (1965-84).
Since 1982 he has lived in the USA. He died in January 14, 1999 in
Pontedera, Italy.
Jerzy Grotowski quotes
- «I'm interested for the actor because he is a human being. That interest
premise two basic points. First, the contact with another person, the mutual
understanding or otherwise the overcoming of our soleness. Second an attempt
to understand ourselves through the behavior of another human being like
seeing us in him.
If the actor reproduces an action that I tough him is a kind of "exercise". The result is a well-worn deed which methodologically and deep inside I find it sterile. But if we approach, in tandem, the point where the actor, relieved from his daily resistances let himself to uncover through a reaction, I believe that methodologically, this work is effective. Therefore I ought to enrich my inner world because this reaction reveals a piece of human experience, something unique that can be defined as fate, a human condition».
[Lecture excerpt - Grotowski. Published: 1967, Warsow.]
Links about Jerzy Grotowski
- Osrodek Grotowskiego-Grotowski Center
- Grotowski Statement of Principles
- Grotowski: Igniting the Flame by R.Gaffield-Knight
- Grotowski pour mémoire (1999)
- News From Poland-Grotowski
- Grotowski, Jerzy at Columbia Encyclopedia
Youtube video of Acropolis by Grotowski
Books related to Jerzy Grotowski
Book you can buy from Amazon.com
