Jean Vilar

Born the March 12th 1912 with Sète and died the May 28th 1971, Jean Vilar is actor, director, theater director, creator of the Festival of Avignon.

Biography

Jean Vilar leaves his birthplace and to Paris in 1932 “goes up” to prepare a license of letters. It in addition follows the courses of philosophy of Alain and the theatrical teaching of Charles Dullin.

It appears for the first time on scene in 1935 in the figuration of the Faiseur of Balzac to the Théâtre of the Workshop.

In 1940, it joined the travelling theater Roulotte of André Clavé, that it codirige, and takes part in the rounds of Jeune France. Then, it founds its clean company, the Compagnie of the Seven, in 1943. This creation intervenes the year which follows the assembly of its first part, the Dance of dead of Strindberg.

It is binding to the public and on the critic like a true actor and Director in 1945 thanks to the Meurtre in the cathedral of T.S. Eliot, created with the Théâtre of the Old man-Dovecote.

It organizes from September 4th to 10th 1947 in the Main courtyard of the Palais of the Popes “ the week of dramatic art in Avignon ”. The Festival of Avignon was born. It will direct it until its death in 1971.

It is named with the head of the Popular National theater (NPT) in 1951. He seeks to make the theater accessible to greatest number in particular by lowering the price from the places.

This search is concluded by a form from politization starting from 1961: the parts proposed do not cease treating Fascisme into full Guerre with Algeria.

Its activity of actor should not be forgotten. It had a presence in extraordinary scene which enabled him for example to say the long monolog of Théramène in Phèdre of Jean Racine, only, upright and almost without moving on the immense scene of the Palate of Chaillot - and the emotion passed.

The mandate of Jean Vilar to the head of the NPT is completed in 1963. It is devoted consequently entirely to the festival which it created. This one develops and is institutionalized so much so that the director becomes the target of important criticisms. He is denounced in 1968 like a second Salazar.

Its proposal to grant 1% of the budget of the State to the culture formulated at the end of the Années 1970 remained famous.

For the decorations and costumes of its creations Jean Vilar will have called upon the majority of the great painters of his generation, of Gischia to Manessier, of Prassinos to Singier.

It is buried with the marine Cimetière of Sète.

Data bases

The work of Jean Vilar and the totality of the 3000 demonstrations programmed with the Festival of Avignon since its beginnings into 1947 are accessible to the House Jean Vilar (library, video library, exposures, database…)

  • site of the House Jean Vilar

  • 8, rue Mons, Assembled Paul Puaux, 84000 Avignon.

There exists also a black and white recording of Henri IV of Pirandello seen with the TV about 1986 -1987, and which should be with INA.

More

  • Jean Vilar , biography of Claude Roy, published at Calmann-levy, 1987.

External bond

    Video
  • : '' Jean Vilar '' in 1962, it is expressed on the troop of the NPT and on the play the Louts of Carlo Goldoni with Michel Galabru, a video of the site of the files of the French-speaking Switzerland Télévision

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