The book traces the history of Polish performances from the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries to the present day. The author, in line with the latest trends in global theater studies, understands this art form performatively—as a public event that depends both on its creators and the audience it repeatedly gathers.

The book covers not only stage activities in the strict sense but also ceremonies, demonstrations, anniversaries, spectacles, and rituals. It weaves together five parallel stories—about the theater of celebrations, the theater of transformation, the theater of power, the national theater, and the "theater of the cultural city"—into a fascinating narrative about Polish culture, with a special emphasis on its spectacular aspects.

Dariusz Kosiński is a professor in the Department of Performance Studies at the Faculty of Polish Studies at Jagiellonian University in Krakow. He is a researcher of Polish theatrical traditions, including acting and directing arts.