Michel de Ghelderode

Ghelderode, MICHEL DE (Ghelderode, Michel de; pseudo., Present. name - Adhemar Martens, Martens) (1898-1962), Belgian playwright, recognized as the founder of the French avant-garde theater. Inspired by scenes from the history, folklore, the Holy Scriptures, as well as vaudeville and circus, poetic theater Ghelderode inoskazatelen, with elements of fantasy and mysticism. Among his many characters - clowns, ghosts, clowns. Ghelderode portrays a world of blasphemy and perversion, which, for example, the ascension of Christ turns burlesque descent into hell (Infernal feast - Fastes d'enfer, 1943).

Born Ghelderode April 3, 1898 in Ixelles (prov. Brabant, Belgium), the Flemish family, but spoke and wrote in French. Sickness was forced to leave the Jesuit college, but religion was largely determined by the content of his work. In his youth, a significant impact on him has Flemish and Spanish painting - P. Bruegel, J. Bosch, D. El Greco. Left its mark and the enthusiasm for puppets, masks, mannequins, which is especially apparent in his five plays for the puppet theater, which he began his career. Was followed by "The Death of Doctor Faustus" (Le Mort du docteur Faust, 1926), "Don Juan" (Don Juan, 1928), "Christopher Columbus" (Christophe Columb, 1928), "Barabbas" (Barabbas, 1932). "Call in the Spanish golden age of El Escorial" (Escurial, 1928) became his most popular play. However, world-wide fame came to Ghelderode only after productions in France in 1947, 1949 and 1952, his later plays, especially the "feast of Hell".

Died Ghelderode in Brussels on April 1, 1962.