Antonin Artaud

About

Legendary French playwright, actor, and theater director who wrote The Theatre and Its Double, which describes his concept of The Theatre of Cruelty.

Before Fame

He was drafted into the French army, but later discharged due to consistent sleepwalking.

Trivia

He occasionally acted, too, playing the monk in The Passion of Joan of Arc.

Family Life

He had eight siblings.

Associated With

During periodic stays at a mental institution, being treated for schizophrenia among other things, he would frequently read Edgar Allan Poe.