Ariane Mnouchkine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ariane Mnouchkine
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| Born | 3 March 1939 Boulogne-sur-Seine, France
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| Alma mater | Sorbonne University |
| Years active | 1964 – present |
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Ariane Mnouchkine (born March 3, 1939) is a famous French director for the stage. She started a special theatre group in Paris called Théâtre du Soleil (Theatre of the Sun) in 1964. This group is known for its unique and experimental plays.
Ariane Mnouchkine has written and directed many important plays and films. She is also a professor at the Collège de France. She has received special honors from universities in Rome and Oxford for her amazing work in performing arts.
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Early Life and Education
Ariane Mnouchkine is the daughter of Alexandre Mnouchkine, a film producer from Russia. Her mother was June Hannen. Ariane's father named his film company, Ariane Films, after her.
Ariane studied literature at Sorbonne University in Paris, France. During a year studying at Oxford University in England, she joined a drama club. This experience made her realize she wanted to work in theatre.
When she returned to the Sorbonne in 1959, she started a theatre group for students.
Founding Théâtre du Soleil
In 1964, Ariane Mnouchkine founded Théâtre du Soleil (Theatre of the Sun) with her friends. This theatre group is very special. They often create plays that look at social and political issues happening in the world.
Théâtre du Soleil often performs in unusual places. They might use barns or gymnasiums instead of regular stages. Ariane believes theatre should not be limited to a traditional stage. She also likes to break the "fourth wall." This means that when you watch her plays, you might see the actors getting ready right in front of you. They might be putting on makeup or costumes as the audience arrives.
Famous Works and Style
Ariane Mnouchkine has created many of her own plays. One famous play is 1789, which was about the French Revolution. She has also directed classic plays by famous writers like Molière and William Shakespeare.
Between 1981 and 1984, she directed a series of Shakespeare's plays. These included Richard II, Twelfth Night, and Henry IV, Part 1. After finishing them, she toured all three plays together. She also directed ancient Greek plays like Iphigenia by Euripides and the Oresteia by Aeschylus.
While she is mostly known for her stage work, Ariane Mnouchkine has also worked on films. She was nominated for an Oscar for her screenplay for the film That Man from Rio (1964). Her film 1789, which was based on her live play about the French Revolution, became very famous in 1974.
In 1978, she wrote and directed Molière. This movie was about the life of the famous French playwright, Molière. It was nominated for a special award at the Cannes Film Festival. She also worked with writer Hélène Cixous on TV movies like La Nuit miraculeuse (1989) and Tambours sur la digue (2003).
Awards and Recognition
Ariane Mnouchkine has received many important awards for her work.
- In 1987, she was the first person to receive the Europe Theatre Prize. This award recognized her amazing work with Théâtre du Soleil.
- In 1992, she shared her thoughts about the opening of EuroDisney near Paris. She felt it was not a good idea for French culture.
- In 2009, she won the Ibsen Award, a very important prize for theatre.
- She received the Goethe Medal in 2011.
- In 2019, Ariane Mnouchkine was given the Kyoto Prize for Arts and Philosophy. This award celebrates her contributions to theatre and cinema.
See Also
In Spanish: Ariane Mnouchkine para niños
