The Poor Theatre

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.

In the poor theatre, the production sheds lighting, costume, make-up, props, and complex sets, making the actor all the more important and singular. Only the minimal lighting, props, etc., are included in a production. Secondly...