Jerzy Grotowski, „Apocalypsis cum figuris”, 1975 (1-50/137)

The show of Laboratory Theatre directed by Jerzy Grotowski was not only the final one, but also considered the artist’s most radical theatrical work. It premiered in 1969. Preparation of the spectacle took four years and had first started as rehearsals of a material based on Juliusz Słowacki’s drama entitled ‘Samuel Zborowski’. After a year Grotowski had already thrown away most of the primary material and instead started working with the Gospel and the parable of The Great Inquisitor from Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novel The Brothers Karamazov.

The director used unconventional methods while working with actors which was supposed to lead to a complete emotional involvement and a real experience. In “Apocalypsis cum figures” Grotowski aimed to replace theatrical illusion with a direct experience. One of the ways to achieve that was to put the emphasis on the material aspect of the show where the actors performed in their everyday clothes, and was the division between the actors and the audience – instead both sides interacted with each other.


Pages: 1 2 3


Pages: 1 2 3