Paul Binnerts, chronology

  • 1938. Born in Den Haag (The Hague), The Netherlands.
  • 1960-1968. Studied Dutch language and literature, and theater history at the University of Amsterdam.
  • 1967-1970. President of the International Student Theatre Union (ISTU).
  • 1968. The first person in The Netherlands to graduate as a dramaturge under Professor Benjamin Hunningher (MA Drama).
  • 1968-1971. Led the University Theater and programmed significant international avant-garde theater productions. Highlights: The Cuban Missile Crisis by Albert Hunt, The Serpent by The Open Theater of Joseph Chaikin, The Cry of the People for Meat by the Bread and Puppet Theater of Peter Schumann, and Deafman’s Glance by Bob Wilson.
  • 1971-1981. After teaching dramaturgy there for a few years, he left the University of Amsterdam to become a director. Became an expert of the ‘epic theater’ of Bertolt Brecht, directing, in Holland and abroad, many of his plays in different settings: theater schools, universities, and professional theater groups. Over the years a form of theater evolved out of this work, called real-time theater.
  • 1979. Co-founded Schlicksupp teatertrupp, one of the first professional ‘free’ theater groups in Germany. Memorable performances such as Der Brotladen/The Breadshop and Flametti, toured the country and Europe, and were invited to international festivals.
  • 1979-1986. Lived in Frankfurt am Main.
  • 1986. Returned to The Netherlands and founded Southern Comfort. Produced and directed, a.o. Forbidden Reproduction, The Tigress, and Black Box.
  • 2007. Founded The Elephant Brigade in New York. Returned once more to Brecht with the production of Man is Man.
  • 1972-…. Wrote and directed a few original plays, and a number of plays based on novels or other existing material. Among them:
    • 1987. Last resort, original play.
    • 1987. Forbidden reproduction, based on Love Act by M.E. Austen.
    • 1990. The Tigress, based on the novel by Walter Serner.
    • 1995. St. Louis Blues, original libretto for Chiel Meijering’s opera.
    • 1999. Black Box, based on the novel by Amos Oz.
    • 2004. The Same Sea, based on the novel by Amos Oz.
    • 2006. Mephisto, a new adaptation of the novel by Klaus Mann.
  • 1968-…. Wrote three novels, a handful of short stories and publications on theater. Is, on and off, active as a theater critic and an essayist.
  • 1992-1994. Editor-in-chief of the Dutch theater magazine Toneel Theatraal. Chairman of the jury of the Theaterfestival.
  • 2002. Published Toneelspelen in de tegenwoordige tijd. This book will be published in the US under the title Acting in real time.
  • 1968-…. Taught acting, directing and dramaturgy at: Amsterdam -, Utrecht-, Princeton - and New York Universities, Bradford College of Art, and the Theater Schools of Amsterdam, Maastricht. Conducted acting and directing workshops in Holland, Germany, France, England, Japan, Israël and the US. Currently teaching at Amsterdam Theater School and New York University, and conducting acting and directing workshops in the US, Japan and Israël.
  • 1992. Married Nancy Gabor.
  • 2002-…. Based in New York and Amsterdam.

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