About
Bernard-Marie Koltès was a French playwright and theatre director, born in Metz in 1948 and died in Paris in 1989. A major figure in late 20th-century French theatre, he came to prominence at the Avignon Festival in 1977 with his monologue La Nuit juste avant les forêts. His collaboration with director Patrice Chéreau from 1983 marked a decisive turning point, leading to memorable productions at the Théâtre des Amandiers. His plays, translated into more than 36 languages, explore solitude, strangeness, and power relations. He also translated Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale.
* 1948-04-09 — † 1989-04-15
Major works
- La Nuit juste avant les forêts (1977)monologue
- Combat de nègre et de chiens (1979)play
- Quai Ouest (1985)play
- Dans la solitude des champs de coton (1986)play
- Roberto Zucco (1988)play
Key milestones
- 1977Breakthrough at the Avignon Festival with La Nuit juste avant les forêts.
- 1983Beginning of his collaboration with director Patrice Chéreau.
- 1989Death in Paris from complications of AIDS.
Themes
solitudestrangenesspower relationsmarginalityviolence
Sources: oxfordreference.com · larousse.fr · bnf.fr