Jerzy Grotowski

Jerzy Grotowski (August 11 1933 - January 14 1999) was a Polish theatre director and a leading figure of theatrical avant garde of the 20th century.

Related Topics:
August 11 - 1933 - January 14 - 1999 - Polish theatre

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Grotowski was born in Rzeszów in Poland and lived until the age of six in Przemy?l. During World War II, the family was separated: his mother moved with him to the small village of Nienadówka, while his father served as an officer in the Polish Army and was later stationed in England.

Related Topics:
Rzeszów - Poland - Przemy?l - Polish Army - England

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In 1955 Grotowski graduated from the High Theatrical School in Kraków with a degree in acting. Soon after graduation he went on to Moscow to study directing at the Lunacharsky Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS). During his stay in Moscow, until 1956, he learned about new trends in theatre pioneered by leading Russian figures such as Stanislavsky, Vakhtangov, Meyerhold and Tairov.

Related Topics:
1955 - Kraków - Moscow - Lunacharsky Institute of Theatre Arts - 1956 - Stanislavsky - Vakhtangov - Meyerhold

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After returning to Poland Grotowski expanded his studies in directing at the same theatrical

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school as before (1956-1960). During that period he moved to Opole where he took over the post of director in a local theatre.

Related Topics:
1956 - 1960 - Opole

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In 1965 he moved to Wroc?aw where he established and led a theatrical company - Laboratorium - which was in itself very innovative but under the overwhelming influence of Grotowski's personality.

Related Topics:
1965 - Wroc?aw

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Grotowski revolutionized theatre, and, along with his pupil, Eugenio Barba, leader and founder of Odin Teatret, is considered a father of contemporary theatre. His work in Laboratorium produced the Grotowski Technique, a method of education and training for actors. It consisted of many exercises that emphasized control of body and voice.

Related Topics:
Eugenio Barba - Odin Teatret - Contemporary theatre

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He was the author of Towards a Poor Theatre (1968), where he declared that theatre should not, because it could not, compete against the overwhelming spectacle of film and should instead focus on the very root of the act of theatre: actors in front of spectators.

Related Topics:
1968 - Film

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