Krzysztof Miklaszewski is a major figure in the world of contemporary Polish cultural life and for thirteen years was an actor in Kantor's theatre between 1973 and 1986. As a presenter of arts programmes for Polish television he has directed numerous, significant, documentary films of theatrical and artistic activities. He is currently Artistic Director of the Theatre Rampa in Warsaw.The translator and editor, George Hyde lived and taught in Poland during and after the communist period. A Senior Research Fellow of the University of East Anglia, he is the author of numerous essays on Polish life and letters, and of several books and essays on Modernist writing. He translates from Polish and Russian, and is currently Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Kyoto Women's University, Japan.

'We should be grateful for this text ... [it] takes us to the heart of Kantor's creative choices and processes and serves well the reader who has perhaps tried to penetrate Kantor's rather esoteric manifestos cold – and given up. It also helps to have such a guide if this is your first meeting with Kantor. Through his various strategies and choice of document, Miklaszewski paints a dynamic picture of this thoughtful genius and egoist.' – Contemporary Theatre Review

• Introduction; Chapter 1 1 THE LEGISLATOR AND THE RENOVATOR OF RADICAL IDEAS; Chapter 2 2 TOWARDS THE IMPOSSIBLE THEATRE; Chapter 3 3 TADEUSZ KANTOR'S CLOAKROOM; Chapter 4 4 LOVELIES AND DOWDIES; Chapter 5 5 DEAD CLASS, OR A NEW TREATISE ON MANNEQUINS; Chapter 6 6 A GRIPPING SÉANCE; Chapter 7 7 AROUND THE WORLD WITH DEAD CLASS; Chapter 8 8 KANTOR IN OPPOSITION TO HIMSELF; Chapter 9 9 BETWEEN ABSOLUTE FORM AND THE REVELATION OF FEELING; Chapter 10 10 ON THE STATE OF THINGS, THE AVANT-GARDE, INNOVATION, LUCK, TRUTH, AND SUCCESS; Chapter 11 11 CRICOTAGE UNDER VILLON'S BANNER; Chapter 12 12 THE THEATRE IS ART, FIRST AND FOREMOST; Chapter 13 13 LET THE ARTISTS DIE!; Chapter 14 14 I — THE MASTER; Chapter 15 15 A SIXTEEN-MINUTE PRE-PREMIÈRE OVATION; Chapter 16 16 DID I HELP OR DID I HINDER?; Chapter 17 17 EXEGI MONUMENTUM, OR THE MACHINE OF LOVE AND DEATH; Chapter 18 18 “… NOTHING FURTHER …”; Chapter 19 19 BETWEEN LOVE AND DEATH; AFTERWORD;: POSTSCRIPT; TADEUSZ KANTOR (1915–1990); TADEUSZ KANTOR; AUTHORS AND THEIR WORKS; INDEX;