Biography

Antonin Artaud

Playwrite, poet, actor and theatre director 

French
Born 1898-1948

Atonin was originally part of the surrealism movement in Paris during the 1920s. He was deeply effected by world war 1 and the events that happened and the damaged caused, he was curios as to how these sort of global warfare happen. 

He suffered from bad health, at the early age of four he developed Mengitus
He lived in mental asylums for most of his adult life
started life as visual artist then moved towards theatre and film.

 

He was a theorist. Artaud had no system or techniques like other practioners. The theatre and his double was his first and only play ever produce that showcased his theatrical devices and techniques, this reflected the theatre of cruelty. A new way of theatre with the use of imagination brought to life, music, pictures, sound. He wanted his work to provoke and disturb his audience. He didn't like the use of over dramatic language etc. The theatre of cruelty breaks traditional western theatre styles. 

Other practioners where influenced by Antonin such as Jean Genet, Jerzy Grotowski and Peter Brook. Peter Brook used symbolic guesters, violent sounds  and to shock people into thinking and feeling ( theatre of cruelty).