Notes about “Art as a Vehicle” and the Alchemical Craft of the Performer

The article discusses how Grotowski thinks the craft of the performer inspired by the dialogue with spiritual traditions. I focus on some concepts and metaphors found in his research about verticality, especially the idea of transforming a common experience into a subtle one. I establish comparisons with some alchemical principles and discuss the use of symbols such as Jacob’s ladder in his work. Finally, I approach the connection between structure and spontaneity.