Timeline of Jerzy Grotowski’s life and creative work

2012-07-06
2012-07-06

1960

30 January 1960

Venue: Opole

Premiere (also the first ever Polish production) of George Gordon Byron’s Cain, directed by Jerzy Grotowski.

28 February 1960

Venue: Katowice

Guest performance by the Theatre of 13 Rows of Orpheus and Cain at Pałac Młodzieży.

1–4 March 1960

Venue: Kraków

Guest performances by the Theatre of 13 Rows at Teatr Groteska, with Orpheus on 1 and 3 March and Cain 1–4 March.

20 March 1960

Venue: Kraków

Premiere of the radio play Nagarjuna directed by Grotowski and based on ancient Tibetan stories.

1–10 April 1960

Venue: Warsaw

Guest performances by Theatre of 13 Rows at Studencki Teatr Satyryków (STS –Satirists’ Student Theatre) at 76 Świerczewski Street, playing Orpheus (1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 April) and Cain (1–10 April).

13 April 1960

Venue: Poznań

Premiere of Faust at Teatr Polski, based on Goethe’s text with a script and direction by Jerzy Grotowski.

1 May 1960

Venue: Opole

Andrzej Bielski joins the theatre company.

3 May 1960

Venue: Opole

Koło Przyjaciół Teatru 13 Rzędów (Friends of the Theatre of 13 Rows) is formed and has around eighty members. Józef Szajna is elected to be its honorary chairman.

15 May 1960

Venue: Opole

Premiere at the Theatre of 13 Rows of Kabaret Błażeja Sartra (Błażej Sartre’s Cabaret) by Adam Kurczyna with songs by Antoni Jahołkowski. Director: Zygmunt Molik.

27–29 June 1960

Venue: Kraków

Guest performances by the Theatre of 13 Rows with Kabaret Błażeja Sartra by Adam Kurczyna at Teatr Rapsodyczny and at Klub ‘Pod Jaszczurami’ (six performances in total).

1 July 1960

Venue: Opole

Stanisław Szreniawski leaves the company.

31 July 1960

Venue: Opole

Premiere of Mystery Bouffe based on Vladimir Mayakovsky’s text, with a script and direction by Jerzy Grotowski.

1 October 1960

Venue: Opole

Tadeusz Bartkowiak leaves the Theatre of 13 Rows.

10 October 1960

Venue: Kraków

Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Teatralna in Kraków (PWST) awards Jerzy Grotowski a diploma confirming the successful completion of a higher arts education and grants him the title of professional qualified drama director.

13 December 1960

Venue: Opole

Premiere (and first ever Polish adaptation) of Shakuntalā based on Kalidasa’s drama, with a script and direction by Jerzy Grotowski.