The Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Toronto is honoured to announce a Canadian first. From February 10th to the 23rd we will be welcoming the Open Program of the Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski and Thomas Richards for a two-week artistic-residency. The program of Nostos will offer incredible opportunities for students, artists, scholars, teachers, and the public to encounter the work of the Open Program through a series of diverse events, including performances, public talks, screenings, professional masterclasses, and a culminating symposium. CDTPS, with the generous support of the Jackman Humanities Institute, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and our partners at U of T, is welcoming students and faculty from across our three campuses, as well as artists and community groups in the city to join us in generating a series of encounters and potential discoveries through performance and dialogue. The Open Program is directed by Mario Biagini, Associate Director of the Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski and Thomas Richards, and long-time Grotowski collaborator. The Open Program—comprised of 10 actors from around the world—explores the moment of encounter by approaching the poetic word as a tool for human contact and action. In this sense, their work aims to re-discover the very nucleus of theatre: the moment of meaningful contact between human beings. Their current performances arise from an investigation of Allen Ginsberg’s poetry, woven through traditional songs and shouts from the Southern United States, as well as works composed by the group-members. Their ongoing line of research and work with songs of the South is brought into contact with ancient Coptic texts in their newest work, The Hidden Sayings.
