Acting after Grotowski

For whom does the actor perform? Addressing this question, Acting after Grotowski focuses on an actor's work as a self-revelatory deed. Introducing Grotowski's concept of "carnal prayer," Kris Salata develops an interdisciplinary theory of acting and spectating, while lending thoughts to theatre as a liturgical performance. The book 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 own territory of play. Founded in theatre practice, Salata's narrative moves through postmodern philosophy, critical theory, theatre, performance, ritual, and religious studies, concluding that the fundamental structure of prayer, which underpins the actor's deed, can be found in any self-revelatory creative act.