Despite its international influence, Polish theatre remains a mystery to many Westerners. This volume attempts to fill in current gaps in English-language scholarship by offering a historical and critical analysis of two of the most influential works of Polish theatre: Jerzy Grotowski's 'Akropolis' and Tadeusz Kantor's 'Dead Class'. By examining each director's representation of Auschwitz, this study provides a new understanding of how translating national trauma through the prism of performance can alter and deflect the meaning and reception of theatrical works, both inside and outside of their cultural and historical contexts.

A historical and critical analysis of the post-traumatic theatre of Grotowski and Kantor, examining the ways they represent Auschwitz in their respective pivotal works 'Akropolis' and 'Dead Class'.

About the Author

Magda Romanska is an award-winning writer, theatre scholar and dramaturg. Educated at Stanford, Yale and Cornell, she is currently Associate Professor of Theatre and Dramaturgy at Emerson College in Boston, and a research associate at Harvard University's Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies.

Reviews

The task, which the author sets out and performs, starting from such a clearly defined research perspective, is both remarkable and impressive in its momentum and size.
-Performer

Romanska opens up areas of these two productions which have been unavailable.
-New Theatre Quarterly

Richly documented chapters. Through its argumentation and design, the book demonstrates a sophisticated dramaturgical strategy for re-historicizing and recontextualizing theatre and performance events.
-Theatre Journal

This text is a valuable resource for those looking to better understand the complex creativity of Grotowski and Kantor within their Polish historical, social, and literary context.
-Pol-Intel.org

The book demonstrates how both productions were deeply political responses to that "taboo subject." Romanska painstakingly works to decode [it]. An invaluable resource.
-Theatre Annual A Journal of Performance Studies

"[A] valuable resource for those looking to better understand the complex creativity of Grotowski and Kantor within their Polish historical, social, and literary context. [...] It is not only a rich explanation of these dramatists, but also serves as an engaging overview of the Polish literary tradition." -Alena Aniskiewicz, "Pol-Int.org"

"[Romanska's] richly documented chapters interweave primary sources, critical commentary, and contemporary theory (for example, Adorno, Agamben, Bettelheim, Amery) on each topic. [...] Through its argumentation and design, the book demonstrates a sophisticated dramaturgical strategy for re-historicizing and recontextualizing theatre and performance events [...] The book also introduces English-language students to a significant national literature and encourages them to undertake equally rigorous, culturally specific readings in their fields of interest." -Mary Karen Dahl, "Theatre Journal"

"Non-Polish-speaking scholars of Grotowski and Kantor will be grateful for Romanska's work. She opens up areas of these two productions which have been unavailable; trauma and Holocaust survivors will be glad to be made aware of them; and Romanska indicates the direction for further analysis in this area." -Alison Jeffers and Brian Schutis, "New Theatre Quarterly"

Book Information
ISBN 9781783083213
Author Magda Romanska
Format Paperback
Page Count 420
Imprint Anthem Press
Publisher Anthem Press