American actor Willem Dafoe has been appointed as the new artistic director of the Theatre section of the Venice Biennale. His appointment was approved by the Biennale's Board of Directors, chaired by Pietrangelo Buttafuoco. Dafoe, a four-time Oscar and Golden Globe nominee and winner of a Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival, will serve for the 2025-2026 biennium.
"It is an honor to announce Willem Dafoe's appointment as director of the Biennale Theatre," said Pietrangelo Buttafuoco. "The theatre is the foundation of his brilliant career. As the founder of the legendary Wooster Group in 1977, he has always demonstrated discipline, knowledge, passion, and a profound understanding of theatre. I, like everyone else, look forward to attending the Festival he will create as artistic director and witnessing the growth of young talents at the Theatre College under his masterful guidance."
"I was initially surprised and then delighted to receive Pietrangelo Buttafuoco's invitation to be the Director of the International Theatre Festival of the Venice Biennale 2025-2026," commented Willem Dafoe. "I know I am widely recognized as a film actor, but my roots are in the theatre, which shaped and inspired me. I am a stage animal. I am an actor. Theatre educated me in art and life," Dafoe continued, recalling the Wooster Group and his collaborations with great directors like Richard Foreman and Bob Wilson. "My direction of the Theatre program will be influenced by my personal background, an exploration of the essence of the body." Photo by GdcGraphics
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