Theatermachine: Tadeusz Kantor in Context is an in-depth, multidisciplinary compendium of essays that examine Kantor’s work through the prism of postmemory and trauma theory and in relation to Polish literature, Jewish culture, and Yiddish theater as well as the Japanese, German, French, Polish, and American avant-garde. Hans-Thies Lehmann’s theory of postdramatic theater and contemporary developments in critical theory—particularly Bill Brown’s thing theory, Bruno Latour’s actor network theory, and posthumanism—provide a previously unavailable vocabulary for discussion of Kantor’s theater.

MAGDA ROMANSKA is an associate professor in the Department of Performing Arts at Emerson College and the author of Post-traumatic Theatre of Grotowski and Kantor.

KATHLEEN CIOFFI is a theater historian who specializes in Polish theater. She is the author of Alternative Theatre in Poland, 1954–1989.
 

“This groundbreaking collection of beautifully edited essays is impressive in both scope and depth. The book deftly interweaves Kantor’s Polish, Jewish, international, and theoretical roots, thus illuminating essential connections between each in thrilling new ways.” —Dassia Posner, author of The Director’s Prism: E. T. A. Hoffmann and the Russian Theatrical Avant-Garde

“A unique collection, full of splendid writing and vivid insight, destined to become an essential resource on one of the twentieth century’s seminal experimental theater artists.” —Jonathan Kalb, Hunter College, the author of Great Lengths: Seven Works of Marathon Theater

“An invaluable and much needed collection on the incomparable Kantor—his work, his life, his theatrical prescience. Kantor confronted the twentieth century in profound ways that changed the future of theater. This volume approaches his methods and means through twenty-first century lenses that Kantor’s own work might be said to have forecast—post-dramatic theory, new materialism, thing theory, and posthumanism. As such, Theatermachine expands our understanding not only of the theater artist but of theory and practice that would follow.” —Rebecca Schneider, Brown University, the author of Performing Remains: Art and War in Times of Theatrical Reenactment

". . . these rich and profound essays not only place Kantor retrospectively into the theatrical past, but also argue persuasively for his relevance in the 21st century as an avatar of postdramatic and posthuman performance, and of object theater and performance art." —R. Remshardt, University of Florida, CHOICE

"The most important result of this publication is that through this entanglement of different discourses, cultures, and narrations, Kantor’s art reveals itself not only as practice but also as a strong theoretical proposal. His thinking about how matter, performance, objects, and actors can be realized on stage and in art can now be understood not merely as material for interpretation but as an autonomous theory feeding contemporary discussions and practices and offering different categories and models. This is why his art is still interesting today and why it can be important in the global context." —Dorota Sosnowska, Modern Drama

"The publication shows a different image of Kantor, one which is certainly not well known in the field of English language scholarship. The articles collected by the editors extend the previous path of analyzing Kantor’s work, his use of memory as an artistic strategy, but they also show a modern approach to Kantor’s legacy. Kantor was not a creator of pop culture; he was an artist who made his local art global." —Dominika Łarionow, Theatre and Performance Design

“In their edited collection, Theatermachine, Magda Romanska and Kathleen Cioffi address the lack of recognition and critical attention given to Polish theater maker Tadeusz Kantor and attempt the important work of remedying this dearth of scholarship by repositioning the study of his productions and theoretical writings as productive sites of contemporary theory and aesthetics.” —Jim Short, TDR: The Drama Review 

"We cannot talk about one monolithic 'theatre of Tadeusz Kantor.' Rather, we are confronted with myriads of his ideas and the book edited by Magda Romańska and Kathleen Cioffi, like a real “Kantormachine,” is the best representation of this phenomenon." —Krystyna Lipińska Iłłakowicz, The Polish Review