Jerzy Grotowski was born in Rzeszow, Poland on August 11, 1933. In 1955, he graduated from the High Theatrical School in Cracow with a degree in acting. Soon after graduation, he went to study directing at Lunacharsky Institute of Theatrical Arts in Moscow. During his stay in Moscow (until 1956) he learned about new trends in theatre pioneered by leading Russian figures such as Stanislavski, Meyerhold and Tairov. After returning home to Poland, Grotowski took over the post of …showed first 75 words of 765 total…

…showed last 75 words of 765 total…and scenography, without a separate performance area, without lighting and sound effects. It cannot exist without the actor-spectator relationship of perceptual, direct, 'live' communion" "I was brought up on Stanislavski" which he went on to "concentrate" "by a complete stripping down, by the laying bare of one's own intimacy, all this without the least trace of egotism or self-enjoyment"; "ours then is a via negativa, not a collection of skills but an eradication of blocks."