Jean-Christian Grinevald (12 March 1945 – 7 September 2023) was a renowned French stage director. His impact on the world of theatre was significant, as he founded theatre companies and directed multiple shows throughout his career. Grinevald passed away at the age of 78.
Early Life and Education
Born in Paris on 12 March 1945, Grinevald was a well-educated individual with multiple degrees in theatre. Before venturing into the theatre world, he worked as a German teacher.
Career
Assistant to Renowned Directors
Grinevald started his theatre career as an assistant to stage director Patrice Chéreau, followed by working with Jacques Rosner [fr], who was the director of Centre dramatique national Nord-Pas-de-Calais [fr] and the Conservatoire national supérieur d’art dramatique.
Founding Théâtre Kobold
In 1975, Grinevald founded his theatre company, Théâtre Kobold. He produced and directed numerous shows during this period, working with notable actors such as Annie Girardot, Claude Piéplu, Didier Brice [fr], Karin Viard, and Denis Lavant.
Théâtre-Marie-Stuart
From 1977 to 1981, Grinevald founded and directed the Théâtre-Marie-Stuart in Paris. He was instrumental in transforming the theatre into a successful business.
Théâtre de la Main d’Or [fr]
He then took the reins of Théâtre de la Main d’Or [fr] from 1989 to 1999. The theatre received the Fauteuil d’or award under his leadership in 1992.
Academic Career
Grinevald was a professor at the National School of Arts and Techniques of Theatre [fr] (ENSATT) from 1981 to 1998. In addition, he taught in various countries including Quebec, Germany, China, and Poland. He also founded his own school named La Belle de Mai.
Death
Jean-Christian Grinevald died on 7 September 2023, at the age of 78.
Shows Directed
Grinevald had an extensive portfolio of shows directed, including but not limited to:
- L’Azote (1967)
- Monsieur Leonidas aux prises avec la Réaction (1967)
- Les Horaces et les Curiaces (1974)
- La Famille (1975)
- Dreyfus (1975)
- Irène ou la Résurrection (1976)
- Phèdre (1979–1980)
- Honorée par un petit monument (1980)
- Voici Solange, Paris ou ailleurs (1981)
- Pour l’amour de l’humanité (1981)
- L’épaule indifférente et la bouche malade (1982)
- Hôtel de l’amour flou (1983)
- Mensch Meier (1983)
- Ariakos (1984)
- Entrée libre (1985)
- La Ronde (1986)
- Sauvés (1986)
- Cabaret de Quat’sous (1987)
- Cabale (1987)
- Cinq pièces sur square (1988)
- Leonardo hat’s gewusst (1988)
- Nina, c’est autre chose (1988–1989)
- Paysages après la Tempête (1989)
- La Famille (1989)
- Petits extras (1990)
- L’alpage (1990)
- L’écume des jours (1991)
- Les caïmans sont des gens comme les autres (1991)
- Brecht, une biographie (1991)
- La noce chez les petits bourgeois (1992)
- Au cœur, la brûlure (1992)
- Une histoire de l’œil (1992)
- Après l’amour (1992)
- Aberration des étoiles fixes (1993)
- Le Misanthrope (1993)
- Le Rabelais (1994)
- Les Chutes du Zambèze (1995)
- Quartett (1995)
- Victor ou les enfants au pouvoir (1996)
- L’école des femmes (1997)
- Gotcha (1997)
- La Colonie (1997)
- Les Molières en chocolat (1997)
- Baal (1998)
- Le Rêve de Diderot (2001)
- Le songe d’une nuit d’été (2001)
- À l’Usage des dauphins (2002)
- Huître et demi (2005)
- Le Sabre de mon Père (2006)
Conclusion
Jean-Christian Grinevald’s contribution to the theatre world was immense. He left behind a rich legacy that includes several theatre companies, numerous directed shows, and a generation of actors and theatre professionals influenced by his work.
