Jerzy Grotowski

Polish director and theater theorist. Born in Rzeszów. After graduating from the State Higher Academy of Dramatic Arts in Krakow in 1955, he studied at the Moscow State Institute of Dramatic Arts, returning to Japan the following year. He made his debut as a director in Krakow in 1959, and in the autumn of the same year became general director of the Thirteen Column Theater in Opole. In 1962, he renamed the theater the Thirteen Column Theater Laboratory, and with his performance of Acropolis, he attracted widespread attention as a creator, theorist, and reformer of new theater. In 1965, he moved his base to Wrocław, changed the name to Theater Laboratory, and put his theories into practice. His works The Unyielding Prince in the same year and Apocalypse Realized in 1969 clarified the theoretical and practical basis of his ideas, solidifying his reputation in the theater world of the time. In 1965, he published his theory of acting in the monthly magazine Odra, titled "Towards a Poor Theater." He considered the actor's body to be the sole essence of theatre, and rejected all other additional elements such as literary quality, costumes, sets, lighting and music. He required his actors to undergo rigorous physical training and discipline, and sought to create new theatrical emotions through the self-disclosure and self-liberation of the actors that would be generated by the energy seen in the extreme of physical oppression. This is in opposition to what modern theatre had built up. He also set up an acting laboratory and trained young actors from all over the world. However, he never presented any new works after 1969, and passed away in Italy in 1999. He came to Japan in 1973 (Showa 48).

[Masaaki Yamada]

"Experimental Theatre Theory" by Grotowski, translated by Tsutomu Oshima (1971, Teatro)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ポーランドの演出家、演劇理論家。ジェシュフに生まれる。1955年クラクフの国立演劇高等学院を終えて、モスクワ国立演劇研究所に留学し翌年帰国。59年クラクフで演出家としてデビューし、同年秋オポーレの十三列劇場の総監督となる。62年同劇場を十三列演劇実験室と改め、発表した『アクロポリス』によって、新しい演劇の創造者、理論家、改革者として広く注目を集めた。65年本拠地をブロツワフに移し、名称も演劇実験室とし、自らの理論の実践を成し遂げる。同年の『不屈の王子』、69年の『実現された黙示録』はその理念の理論的、実践的根拠を明らかにしたもので、当時の演劇界における彼の名声を不動のものとした。1965年月刊誌『オドラ』にその演技論を「貧しき演劇を目ざして」と題して発表。俳優の肉体を演劇の唯一の本質とみなし、他の付加的要素、文学性・衣装・装置・照明・音楽などを拒否する。俳優に過酷な肉体訓練と規律を求め、物理的抑圧の極致でみられるエネルギーが生み出す俳優の自己開示と自己解放によって新たなる演劇的感動を創造しようとした。それは近代の演劇が築き上げたものに拮抗(きっこう)するものである。演技実験室を併設し、世界中から集まる若い俳優の養成も行った。しかし、69年以降新作を発表しないまま、99年にイタリアで没した。1973年（昭和48）に来日した。

［山田正明］

『グロトフスキ著、大島勉訳『実験演劇論』（1971・テアトロ）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例