Theatre of the Eighth Day (Teatr Ósmego Dnia) was founded in 1964 and soon became one of the most significant alternative student theatre troupes in Poland. Its name derives from the Polish poet K.I. Gałczyński, who wrote that “On the seventh day, the Lord God rested, and on the eighth, He created theatre.” Influenced by the work of Grotowski, the group developed their own acting method and approach to creating performances through group improvisation. For 25 years and despite constant surveillance by the secret police and government censorship, Theatre of the Eighth Day managed to create some of the most important works for the Polish stage. By 1985, most of the group had left the country and the Theatre remained in exile until 1989, returning to Poland at the invitation of the first non-communist Minister of Culture. Since the collapse of the Communist regime, the company, which is based in Poznań, continues to be recognized as a leader among Polish alternative theatres.
Ewa Wójciak is the director of the Theatre of the Eighth Day. She joined the group in the 1970s, co-authoring its most important performances, such as Sale for Everyone, How We Lived in Dignity, Wormwood, and No Man's Land. She adheres to the philosophy that creating art is a form of empathizing with the world and being responsible for the fate of others.