In 1977 an experimental company called the Gardzienice Theatre Association was founded in a tiny Polish village. By 1992 The Observer was hailing "Brilliant Gardzienice ... An orgy of joy, anguish, prayer and lamentation performed in candlelight with hurtling energy and at breakneck speed ... Physically reckless, thrillingly well-sung ... On no account to be missed." Today it is recognized as Poland's leading theatre group, it trains Royal Shakespeare Company actors and tours the world.
Paul Allain describes and analyses Gardzienice's performances, physical and vocal training and anthropological fieldwork among rural minorities at the margins of Europe. His book is the first detailed attempt to assess critically the development of Polish theatre since 1989. It questions whether those artists born into a resistance culture under Communism can maintain their vision in the face both of Poland's economic difficulties and of increased commercialization of the arts.
In 1977, the Gardzienice Theatre Association, an experimental theatre company was founded in a tiny Polish village. By 1992 The Observer was hailing "Brilliant Gardzienice...and orgy of joy, anguish, prayer and lamentation performed in candlelight with hurtling energy and at breakneck speed...Physically reckless, thrillingly well sung...On no account to be missed. " Today the Gardzienice Theatre Association is hailed as Poland's leading theatre group, training Royal Shakespeare Company actors and touring the world. Paul Allain describes and analyses their sung performances, strenuous physical and vocal training, and anthropological fieldwork amongst marginalized European minorities.
This is one of the first detailed attempts to assess developments in Polish experimental theatres since 1989. The author questions whether those artists can maintain their vision in the face of Poland's economic difficulties and increased commercialization of the arts.