Akropolis

play by Grotowski

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June 18, 2026

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Jerzy Grotowski's 1969 production of Akropolis was a significant work by the Polish Laboratory Theatre. This production, based on a play by Stanisław Wyspiański, was a key example of Grotowski's "poor theatre" approach. Poor theatre stripped away non-essential elements like elaborate scenery and costumes, focusing instead on the actor and the direct relationship between performer and spectator. Grotowski aimed for intense, almost ritualistic confrontations, using rigorous physical training to achieve spontaneity and a profound connection with the audience. Akropolis was part of Grotowski's influential experimental theatre that challenged traditional theatrical conventions.12

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stagecraft
Costume of the 20th century and beyond
…Grotowski, conceived his production of Akropolis at the Polish Laboratory Theatre in 1962 as a poetic paraphrase of an extermination camp. There is no hero—and no individuality—among the characters. The costumes were bags full of holes covering naked bodies, and the holes were lined with material suggesting torn flesh; wooden…
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…Grotowski, conceived his production of Akropolis at the Polish Laboratory Theatre in 1962 as a poetic paraphrase of an extermination camp. There is no hero—and no individuality—among the characters. The costumes were bags full of holes covering naked bodies, and the holes were lined with material suggesting torn flesh; wooden…
Read More