In his review of Dead Class, Bogdan Gieraczyński confidently wrote that “Dead Class is the most important and original Polish spectacle of the last decade. It is also one of the most famous, one which I believe will have a long and illustrious life abroad.” Shortly after its Polish premiere, Dead Class toured Holland, West Germany, France, Iran, Yugoslavia, Belgium, Italy, Australia, Venezuela, the USA, Switzerland and Mexico. It played in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Nancy, Belgrade, Milan, Syndey, Barcelona, Graz, Lyon, Lille, Stuttgart, Majorca, Caracas and New York City. In June, 1981, six years after its premiere, Dead Class was reported as having been performed 550 times worldwide. Altogether, in the 17 years of its travels, the spectacle played over 2000 times all over the world.

In the first week of the Edinburgh Festival, Dead Class won the Scotsman award for originality and high artistic value. Reviews were unanimously positive: “The visual impact of the performance is tremendous. […] it is quite simply agonizing. […] simply astounding” – wrote Fringe's Brian Barron. Gordon Parson of the Morning Star called the show “Outstanding.” An anonymous account of Cricot 2's visit to Edinburgh reveals the level of anticipation surrounding Kantor's show: