Institutional Gastroscopy: Publicly Funded Theatre in Poland, Diagnosed by Its Craftspeople

Abstract

The author takes as her starting point the assumption that institutional theatre in Poland since 1989 has been undergoing a secret, non-systemic transformation from the Fordian to the post-Fordian model (the latter being peculiar to late capitalism). The author argues that, although little has been offered by way of substantial reflection on the subject, the changes in question contribute to the exploitation of the lowest-earning staff, leading towards the gradual extinction of craft in theatre. The article aims to identify systemic reasons for existing dysfunctions, such as inadequate self-knowledge within the organization, institutional disintegration and structural opportunism. The findings presented here are based on qualitative research undertaken by the author: interviews with more than eighty craftspeople, technicians and stagehands, both employed and retired.