Grotowski, Jerzy, 1933-1999

Historical Background

Jerzy Grotowski, born in August 1933, was a Polish theatre director and a leading figure in avant garde theatre of the 20th century. He was also the innovator of the "theatre laboratory" and "poor theatre" concepts. In 1983, Grotowski was invited to the University of California, Irvine by Robert Cohen, where he began a course of work called "Objective Drama." This research focused on an investigation of the psychophysiological impact on participants of songs and other performative tools derived from traditional cultures. Grotowski passed away in January 1999.

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