This exhibition highlights major achievements of European theatre, from its roots in antiquity through to the quests of contemporary theatre. The exhibition is based on a concentric layout of two consecutive modules. The first contains models and visualizations that demonstrate transformations of theatre space, while the other includes Museum works that exemplify the adoption of historical models in Polish stage design.

Positioned in the centre of the exhibition, models of theatre space highlight the fundamental changes that have occurred in the relationship between the stage and the audience. Concentrated in the exhibition’s inner circle, multi-media presentations convey historical knowledge, complemented by selected anthropological issues. The collected archives explore the development and transformation of stage layout, as well as the role of people as artists, participants and viewers of the show. Designs, sketches, drawings, costumes and models within the other circle provide a contemporary view of how theatrical ideas are constructed.

The exhibition begins with matters related to theatre in ancient Greece and Rome. The exhibits portray its evolution, from an open-space site to an auditorium to a building which is part of the urban fabric. The exhibition is completed with Jerzy Gurawski’s works, his records of various concepts of space design he provided for the plays of Jerzy Grotowski, which also allude to the ancient orchestral circle that begins this exhibition.

The exhibition is a historical meditation on methods of theatre space design and cultural contexts determined by the evolution of human consciousness and its relationship with the environment. With its central point surrounded by two circles, the uncomplicated layout stresses the significance of rhythm. The exhibition is an open musical score that may be written anew by each visitor.

Curators: Sylwia Ryś, Agnieszka Kołodziej-Adamczuk