THEATRE WITHOUT THEATRE. PERFORMANCES IN EAST ANGLIA IN THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURIES

Travel back in time to the fascinating world of medieval spectacles in East Anglia. This book is a unique journey to an era when theatre went beyond the walls of buildings and flourished in a natural cultural environment. Discover forgotten stories and secrets of performance art from centuries ago, thanks to detailed analyses and reconstructions of performances.

• In-depth analysis of spectacles from the 14th and 15th centuries.
• Reconstruction of medieval performances based on surviving texts.
• Description of the theatrical space, set design, costumes, and acting.
• Classification of the described performances.
• Broad context of the historical, social, and political spectacles.
• Original translations of medieval texts into Polish.
• Rich iconography with photographs and reproductions of woodcuts.

Mirosław Kocur, the author of this work, took on the task of examining almost all surviving texts of spectacles from East Anglia. Using tools of performance art, he reconstructed medieval performances, capturing their unique character and atmosphere. This book is not only a source of knowledge but also a fascinating story about a theatre that developed beyond the beaten path.

The publication consists of three extensive parts: Contexts, Performances, and Summa polyphonica. In the first part, the author characterises the environment in which the religious spectacles were born. The second part provides a description and detailed analysis of the spectacles based on eight surviving scripts. The third part is a summary and synthesis of the information collected.

An advantage of the book is the original medieval texts cited by the author, translated into Polish with great care to preserve rhythm and rhyme. Another advantage is the rich iconography, which includes both photographs taken by the author, depicting the interiors of churches, and reproductions of medieval woodcuts, game plans, and schemes from the collections of the British Library. The publication is completed by a list of illustrations and a bibliography presenting the most important literature on the subject of medieval performance art, as well as an extensive subject index.

Theatre without Theatre is a must-read for all lovers of theatre, history, and medieval culture. Let yourself be transported back in time and discover the forgotten world of spectacles that shaped the artistic and spiritual identity of East Anglia.

The Jerzy Grotowski Institute, the publisher of this publication, is a renowned cultural institution that has been promoting innovative approaches to theatre and performance for years. By purchasing this book, you support the activities of the Institute and contribute to the development of Polish theatre culture.

The book in 236x172 mm format, paperback, has 486 pages. Ideal reading for students, researchers, and anyone interested in the history of theatre.

Discover the fascinating world of medieval spectacles in East Anglia!