The purpose of the book is to examine ten European theater directors from the late 19th century to the end of the 20th century, from the founding of Theatre Libre by French director André Antoine in 1887 to the performative act by Polish director Jerzy Grotowski in 1995.

It analyzes the influence of naturalism on the stage, which caused critical upheavals, as well as the transition to the era of Postdramatic Theatre.