ABSTRACT
Jerzy Grotowski’s work is divided into distinct phases: (1) the “poor theatre” phase (1959-1970), (2) the “paratheatrical” phase (1970-1975) and (3) the Theatre of Sources or “active culture” phase (1976-1982). Members of the Polish Theatre Laboratory Institute insist that the Theatre of Sources, which consists of explorations in “active culture,” is not to be confused with the paratheatrical work, which was interpersonal in tone. Meeting what is “other,” rather than meeting other people, is central to the latter phase. Whereas, in “Holiday; The Day That is Holy” (1973) Grotowski has said, “What matters is that, in this, first I should not be alone …,” in the Theatre of Sources one is “alone with others.” Even though people work alongside one another in it, they are in solitude.
