What is the theme in Towards a Poor Theatre by Grotowski?

The "Poor Theatre" is the major theme. Jerzy Grotowski begins his theory by determining what separates theatre from film and television. He concludes that it is the living organism - the actor - and the intimacy of contact he can achieve with the spectator to be the essential difference. Theatre, he maintains, cannot compete with the lavish sets and effects of modern film and television. Contemporary mainstream theatre, which attempts to emulate film and television with its impressive sets, stage gags, and complex lighting effects - a "rich" theatre - will never be able to truly compete. Instead, Grotowski advocates a "poor" theatre, which refuses to try to compete with its rivals but rather focuses on the actor.