Iphigenia in Aulis at La Mama: Microculture and Musicality in the Work of Gardzienice

The Staniewski/Gardzienice Centre for Theatre Practices returned to La MaMa in New York City for three weeks in October 2007, with its new work based on Euripides’ Iphigenia in Aulis. The company also spent an evening at the CUNY Graduate Center where director Włodzimierz Staniewski showed video documentation and spoke about the ensemble’s past work. Having lived and worked with Gardzienice for nearly a year in 2003–2004, I am grateful for the opportunity this visit provideed to review and rearticulate the ongoing value of the group’s work.