Information about the object:
Ludwik Flaszen (1930-2020) was a participant and witness to a great era of theatre. He was a co-founder and co-animator of Jerzy Grotowski's Laboratory Theatre throughout its existence (1959-1984). In the 1980s he was its director. As a critic, writer and long-time partner in creative dialogue with Grotowski, he became a practitioner himself, leading paratheatrical experiments and acting workshops in many countries around the world. Ludwik Flaszen received an honorary doctorate from the University of Turin for his artistic and scientific activities.

From 1984, he lived permanently in Paris. There are archives there which are the result of the scholar's activities in exile (including books, manuscripts, photographs and video material). After his death, on the basis of a deed of donation, all the materials were handed over to the Grotowski Institute, which now has a Polish book collection stored in the reading room and archive. The library provides a unique intellectual portrait of Ludwik Flaszen, co-founder of the Laboratory Theatre, and gives a picture of his versatile and profound research.

Completed works:
As part of the project, materials from Paris were sorted out, brought to Poland and inventoried. By compiling the entire legacy, it will be possible to analyse the research technique of one of the most eminent theatre critics. These materials will contribute to the further study of phenomena occurring in theatre in the 20th and 21st centuries. It will also be a starting point for further educational projects.

Funding: The Polonica Institute's programme "Polish cultural heritage abroad - volunteering".

More about the project: https://polonika.pl

• Instytut im. Jerzego Grotowskiego, realizacja w roku 2021