Embodied Action by Kate Kohler Amory

Embodied Action by Kate Kohler Amory

Embodied Action traces the powerful legacy of Grotowski's psychophysical actor training through the voices of three generations of women practitioners in North America.

This groundbreaking collection documents how women have inherited, practiced, and transformed Grotowski-inspired techniques since his landmark 1967 workshop at NYU. Through twenty-two chapters by women and non-binary contributors, the book explores how this oral tradition has evolved and expanded—integrating approaches such as Viewpoints, Contemplative Dance Practice, Buddhist philosophy, Roy Hart's eight-octave voice work, and Somatics. Each chapter offers both individual insight and collaborative dialogue, revealing how practitioners have made this rigorous psychophysical work their own within contemporary pedagogical and artistic contexts. The contributors provoke, illuminate, and innovate, demonstrating how Grotowski's methods continue to inspire new generations while adapting to diverse performance practices and philosophies.

This collection is essential reading for actors, acting students, theater practitioners, and anyone curious about psychophysical performance training who seeks authentic, accessible entry points into this transformative work through lived experience and multiple perspectives.

“Embodied Action is a groundbreaking collection of writings by the essential but often overlooked lineage of powerful women whose teaching transformed the landscape of psychophysical acting after GrotowskiThis collection not only preserves crucial history, but reveals evolving practice rooted in embodiment, presence, and radical inquiry.''

Anne Bogart, Director

“Embodied Action gives voice to the many women breaking new ground in the teaching of psychophysical theater. These authors present Grotowski-based training from a strikingly inclusive perspective and dare to integrate this tradition with other somatic trainings which support the growth of actors as creative artists.”

Stephen Wangh, Author of An Acrobat of the heart, a physical approach to acting inspired by the work of Jerzy Grotowski

“From physical, vocal, and mental health practices to Buddhist philosophy, this invaluable collection impels us to examine gender and feminist pedagogy as a vital part of Grotowski-inspired psychophysicality. These "mystress-teachers," through practice, pedagogy and reflection, evolve the parameters of whom we should study and why.”

Bella Merlin, Author of Beyond Stanislavsky: The Psycho-Physical Approach to Actor Training

“Amory brings together a community of practice, whose collective oral histories map an alternative North American genealogy to re(claim) Grotowski-inspired training. In reading this, I felt the call and response of a sisterhood, whose feminine principle and embodied wisdom harnesses the liberatory potential of this practice. You feel the love.”

Lisa Peck, Author of Act as a Feminist! Towards a Critical Acting Pedagogy

“This is a fascinating look into the experiences of powerful women artists inspired by Grotowski. Whenever I teach Grotowski’s writings at the heart of what drives us to create theater, my students are left hungry for more. I cannot wait to share this with my students!”

Jennifer Rohn, Bennington College

“Bravo for fearlessly embracing freedom! Thank you! A long time coming and indeed overdue, these courageous, outrageously generous teaching artists offer fresh voices, and an insistent invitation and means of creating one’s own technique—the only authentic technique as Grotowski famously said.”

Wendell Beavers, Founding Chair (Emeritus), Naropa University

Kate Kohler Amory is Professor of Theatre, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and a director, actor, devisor and writer.