Representative Authors
Arthur Adamov (1908–1970)
Born on August 23, 1908, in the tranquil town of Kislovodsk, Russia, Arthur
Adamov was the offspring of Sourene and Helene Bagatourov Adamov, affluent
Armenians deeply entrenched in the oil industry. At the tender age of twelve,
Arthur's family relocated to the vibrant cityscape of Paris, where he would
later receive his education in Switzerland and Germany. While Adamov dabbled in
poetry, essays, and autobiographical musings, his enduring legacy is cemented
in his prowess as a playwright. Early in his literary voyage, Adamov's work
resonated with the echoes of Surrealism and Absurdism. His French-written
dramas poignantly encapsulated the desolation and solitude inherent in human
existence, highlighting our struggles to forge meaningful connections and the
inevitable finality of death. His seminal piece from this era, Le
pingpong (later known in English as Ping-Pong), stands out as a
testament to these themes.
Over time, Adamov distanced himself from Absurdism, transitioning in the
mid-1950s towards crafting narratives more grounded in reality and imbued with
optimism. These later plays delved into the individual's entanglement within
social and political realms. Despite his artistic successes, Adamov's personal
life was a tumultuous storm of guilt and neuroses, which he candidly exposed in
his autobiographical writings. A heavy drinker, his spiraling mental and
physical decline ultimately led to his tragic death from a barbiturate overdose
on March 16, 1970.
Edward Albee (1928–)
Edward Albee's life began on March 12, 1928, in the state of Virginia, under
shrouded origins as he was relinquished for adoption soon after birth. His
adoptive parents, Reed Albee, a part-owner of the Keith-Albee theater circuit,
and Frances Cotter, provided him a life of affluence in Larchmont, New York.
Albee's formative years were steeped in theatrical influence, with frequent
excursions to the city for theater outings and a home bustling with theatrical
personalities.
Albee's academic journey at Trinity College, Hartford, spanned only from 1946
to 1947, culminating without a degree. Though his early attempts at poetry
failed to capture success, his transition to drama heralded a new epoch. In
1958, he penned the one-act play The Zoo Story, which debuted in Berlin
before enchanting New York audiences. This was swiftly followed by The
Sandbox in 1959 and The American Dream in 1961. These seminal works,
intrinsic to the Theatre of the Absurd, are minimalist dramas that dissect the
isolation of the individual and critique the facade of American values. Albee's
illustrious career has been decorated with numerous accolades, including three
Pulitzer Prizes for A Delicate Balance (1967), Seascape (1975),
and Three Tall Women (1994).
Fernando Arrabal (1932–)
Fernando Arrabal emerged into the world on August 11, 1932, in the Moroccan
enclave of Melilla, son to Fernando and Carmen Teran Arrabal Ruiz. His early
years unfolded in Spain under the shadow of Francisco Franco's tyrannical rule.
The University of Madrid shaped his education, and in 1958, he united in
matrimony with Luce Moreau, a professor, with whom he had two children.
Arrabal's political convictions led to his imprisonment in Spain in 1967, a
plight from which he was liberated through the advocacy of P.E.N., an
international writers' guild.
Though Surrealism and Absurdism deeply influenced his artistic sensibilities,
Arrabal's preferred moniker for his dramatic style was "Theatre of Panic." His
creations are imbued with a surreal nightmare quality, rife with madness,
vicious violence, and perverse sexuality. Known for his portrayal of innocent,
child-like characters enacting unspeakable acts of cruelty and depravity,
Arrabal carved a niche for himself in the theater world.
Samuel Beckett (1906–1989)
The Nobel laureate Samuel Beckett was born in the serene suburb of Foxrock, Dublin, on April 13, 1906,...
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to William Frank Beckett, a surveyor, and Mary Jones Roe Beckett, a dedicated nurse. Educated at the esteemed Protestant school, Beckett earned a bachelor's degree in 1927 and a master's in 1931 from Trinity College. Disenchanted with teaching, he quickly abandoned the profession in favor of European travels, eventually calling Paris home in 1937. Although his literary talent spanned poetry, essays, and novels, his profound impact as a playwright, particularly with the masterfulWaiting for Godot (1954),
secured his place in the annals of Absurdism.
This iconic two-act play revolves around two men engaging in seemingly futile
dialogues as they await the elusive Godot, who never arrives. Beckett's bleak
portrayal of existence further unfurled in Endgame (1957), which some
critics perceive as an even starker examination of the human condition. Beckett
continued his foray into the arts, producing plays, novels, and prose well into
his eighties, until his passing from respiratory failure in Paris on December
22, 1989.
Jean Genet entered the world in Paris on December 19, 1910, a child of mystery shrouded by the absence of his father and the abandonment by his mother. His formative years unfolded within the confines of an orphanage before he was placed with a foster family who branded him a thief. His youth was marked by rebellion, as he bolted from a reformatory for young offenders and enlisted in the French Foreign Legion only to desert it. For two decades, Genet roamed Europe, living on the fringes through theft and prostitution. It was within the stark solitude of a prison cell, under a life sentence, that Genet's writing journey began. Thanks to fervent advocacy from his literary allies, he received a presidential pardon in 1948, liberating him to pursue a life devoted to writing, the arts, and fervent political activism. He became a passionate supporter of the Black Panther Party and evolved into a cult icon, influenced by Jean-Paul Sartre’s portrayal of him as a saint and martyr. Genet's literary debut featured poetry, novels, and an embellished autobiography. While still confined, he penned his inaugural play, The Maids (1947), and post-release, he continued crafting dramas, many of which captivated audiences. The late 1950s and early 1960s marked his golden era as a playwright. In 1970, Genet immersed himself in the Middle East, living amongst members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), championing their cause. He passed away in Paris on April 15, 1986, from throat cancer, leaving behind memoirs chronicling his time with the PLO, published later that same year.
Václav Havel (1936–)
Václav Havel, a formidable playwright, steadfast political dissident, and the Czech Republic's esteemed president, was born in Prague on October 5, 1936, to Václav M. and Bozena Vavreckova Havel. His education took place at a technical school and Prague’s Academy of Art, followed by service in the Czech Army from 1957 to 1959. Through the vibrant 1960s, Havel labored in Czechoslovakia's theater scene, undertaking roles from stagehand to playwright-in-residence. He achieved acclaim with early plays such as The Garden Party and The Memorandum, which incisively tackled the soul-crushing effects of governmental bureaucracy. The Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 led to his imprisonment and a ban on his plays, yet his global reputation flourished as his works found success beyond Czechoslovakia’s borders. Domestically, he emerged as a vocal advocate for human rights. With the Soviet Union's fall in 1989, Havel’s plays re-emerged on the Czech stage, and he ascended to the presidency of Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic), a role he held until 2002.
Eugène Ionesco (1912–1994)
Eugène Ionesco was born in the town of Slatina, Romania, on November 26, 1912. The son of Eugène, a practicing lawyer, and Marie-Therese Icard Ionesco, he later took on French citizenship and spent the majority of his life in the vibrant city of Paris. A painter and playwright, Ionesco became renowned for his works linked to the Theater of the Absurd, including notable plays like The Bald Soprano (1950), The Lesson (1951), and Rhinocéros (1959). Through biting black humor, he critiqued societal and political structures, positing laughter as the sole response to life's absurdities. Despite his association with the absurd, Ionesco preferred the term “Theatre of Derision,” often targeting the inadequacies and manipulative power of language in his early works. His plays enjoyed significant acclaim during the 1950s and 1960s, though his later works did not receive the same fervor. Shifting his focus, Ionesco delved into painting and non-fiction writing. He passed away in Paris on March 28, 1994.
Harold Pinter (1930–)
Harold Pinter was born on October 10, 1930, in a modest neighborhood in Hackney, London, England, to Hyman and Frances Pinter. His childhood brimmed with joy, though it was intermittently shadowed by the nightly dread of World War II air raids. At Hackney Downs Grammar School, Pinter excelled in acting, writing, and sports. In 1948, he embarked on studies at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and the following years saw him perform with various repertory companies as an actor. His breakthrough as a playwright came in 1957 when his first play, The Room, debuted in Bristol, England. It was soon followed by The Birthday Party (1958), The Dumbwaiter (1959), and an array of plays, radio dramas, television works, and screenplays. Pinter's influence as a pivotal post-World War II playwright is undisputed, with his works resonating with audiences and critics alike.