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Michel Saint-Denis

Michel Saint-Denis

Michel Saint-Denis was a French actor, theatre director, and theorist who was a major influence in European theatre from the 1930s onwards.

Key Practitioners

Introduction

Michel Saint-Denis was born in Beauvais in northern France. He had one younger sister, Suzanne, and was the nephew of theatre director Jacques Copeau. When the family plunged into debts as a result of Saint-Denis’ father’s gambling and poor business decisions, they moved to Versailles to be closer to Copeau. Fresh out of school, Saint-Denis was called up to serve in the army in 1916. He served for four years and was awarded the Croix de Guerre for courage. Saint-Denis moved to London in 1935 and lived in Britain on and off until his death from a stroke at the age of 73. He had three children (the eldest of whom died in World War Two) but never married.

Key Dates & Events

  • 1916 - Saint-Denis is called up to serve in the army.
  • 1924 - Saint-Denis moves to Burgundy, where he establishes the acting troupe Les Copiaus.
  • 1935 - Saint-Denis moves to London.
  • 1938 - Saint-Denis is invited by John Gielgud to direct a production of Three Sisters at the Queen’s Theatre.
  • 1953 - Saint-Denis moves back to France to take up the position of director at the Centre Dramatique de l’Est (CDE) in Alsace.
  • 1957 - Saint-Denis retires on health grounds.
  • 1961 - Saint-Denis serves as the co-director of the Royal Shakespeare Company with Peter Hall until 1966.

Context & Analysis

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