At Work with Grotowski on Physical Actions

by Thomas Richards

`I consider this book a precious report that permits one to assimilate some of those simple and basic principles which the self-taught at times come to know, yet only after years of groping and errors. The book furnishes information regarding discoveries which the actor can understand in practice, without having to start each time from zero. Thomas Richards has worked with me systematically since 1985. Today he is my essential collaborator in the research dedicated to Art as Vehicle.' - from the Preface by Jerzy Grotowski

Genres: Theatre

152 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 1995

About the author

Thomas Richards was born in the USA in 1962. He is the son of director Lloyd Richards. Richards received a BA from Yale.

He has been a collaborator of Jerzy Grotowski since 1986.

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's painful that somewhere out there a teacher who could explain all this directly to me does exist. And I have no idea how to find him/her. All the same, another amazing book about an amazing acting teacher.

[Isabella Perego · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oro

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro imprescindible, no sólo en cuanto a actuación sino también con el compromiso que tenemos con ella. Como decía Grotowski, no seamos solo “turistas” de ello, pongámoslo todo.
Reflexiones muy profundas en cuanto a lo que quiere decir actuar con una lucidez espectacular. Qué pena que esté descatalogado y sea difícil de encontrar.

[John Brannigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to read for a class this semester, and I’m glad I did. One of the best books on acting I have read because it resonated with my process and what I needed the most. The book is very intelligent, knowledgeable, and isn’t too difficult to digest. Though, I did find myself reading at a slower pace to really visualize and internalize the content.

[Ariadna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Al principi resulta un poc complex de llegir però conforme vas avançant en la lectura te indinses per complet.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this last night when I couldn't sleep and it was raining and the grad students in the lower flat next door were having a halloween party. Really loved Richard's first-hand accounts of workshops and work groups with no public performance as goal, particularly Richards' take on his own 'tourism' and 'dilettantism' and other vocabulary words for mistakes of approach to 'the work'. Both his own vocabulary and Grotowski's, such as 'pumping up' (one's emotions) or what came to be called 'Thomas Richard's Crimes' (making noise during the main action, loud breathing, disconnecting from one's partners).