Acting after Grotowski: Theatres Carnal Prayer

For whom does the actor perform? To answer this foundational question of the actors art, Grotowski scholar Kris Salata explores acting as a self-revelatory action, introduces Grotowskis concept of carnal prayer, and develops an interdisciplinary theory of acting and spectating.

Acting after Grotowski: Theatres Carnal Prayer attempts to overcome the religious/secular binary by treating prayer as a pre-religious, originary deed, and ultimately situates theatre along with ritual in their shared territory of play.

Grounded in theatre practice, Salatas narrative moves through postmodern philosophy, critical theory, theatre, performance, ritual, and religious studies, concluding that the fundamental structure of prayer, which underpins the actors deed, can be found in any self-revelatory creative act.