Firmin Gémier (; 1869–1933) was a French actor and director. Internationally, he is most famous for originating the role of Père Ubu in
Alfred Jarry’s play ''
Ubu Roi
''Ubu Roi'' (; "Ubu the King" or "King Ubu") is a play by French writer Alfred Jarry, then 23 years old. It was first performed in Paris in 1896, by Aurélien Lugné-Poe's Théâtre de l'Œuvre at the Nouveau-Théâtre (today, the Théâtre de ...
''. He is known as the principal architect of the popular theatre movement in France.
Early life
Gémier was born in 1869 in
Aubervilliers, France, with the given name Firmin Tonnerre.
He was raised an orphan.
After leaving school, he studied in a chemist's laboratory, but 'was discharged' for mimicking his employer.
Career
Gémier began his career as an actor in melodramas for working class actors, before going on to direct six different theaters, including the
''Théâtre Antoine'' and the
''Odéon''.
As actor
He performed more than 300 roles as an actor, in styles that ranged from
Naturalism to
Symbolism
Symbolism or symbolist may refer to:
*Symbol, any object or sign that represents an idea
Arts
*Artistic symbol, an element of a literary, visual, or other work of art that represents an idea
** Color symbolism, the use of colors within various c ...
to more populist work.
In 1892 he joined
André Antoine's Théâtre Libre The Théâtre Libre (; "Free Theatre") was a theatre company that operated from 1887 to 1896 in Paris, France.
Origins and History
Théâtre Libre was founded on 30 March 1887 by André Antoine (actor), André Antoine. The primary goal of the ...
, where he first gained a national profile. In 1896 he played his most famous role, Père Ubu in the premiere of
Alfred Jarry’s ''
Ubu Roi
''Ubu Roi'' (; "Ubu the King" or "King Ubu") is a play by French writer Alfred Jarry, then 23 years old. It was first performed in Paris in 1896, by Aurélien Lugné-Poe's Théâtre de l'Œuvre at the Nouveau-Théâtre (today, the Théâtre de ...
'' (1896) at
Lugné-Poe's ''Théâtre de l’Œuvre''.
As director
Gémier was also a prolific director, staging over 300 productions during the course of his career.
He began a freelance directing career in 1900, before taking over the direction of the ''Théâtre Antoine'' from 1906 to 1921.
He was 'a tireless champion of the idea of a theatre for the people'.
:20 His goal as director was to create a theatre that was 'both popular ''and'' national, not sectarian but unifying'.
:217
In 1911, he initiated the privately funded ''Théâtre National Ambulant'' (TNA).
The TNA was a popular theater project that brought theatre to the 'outermost provinces in France'.
The theatre used eight steam-engine tractors that
pulled a caravan of thirty-seven trailers that carried the sets, costumes, lighting equipment, electric generator, seating for 1650 people, portable stage proscenium arch, and the double walled tent–supported by five seventeen-meter steel towers–that housed the stage and auditorium.
Though it lasted only two seasons, it was an important part of the French popular theatre movement.
In 1920 he was made the director of the newly created, and government funded,
Théâtre National Populaire
The (; "People's National Theater") is a theatre now at Villeurbanne, France. It was founded in 1920 by Firmin Gémier in Paris.
Today, the TNP has a company of ten resident actors and the building is currently being completely renovated.
His ...
.
In 1927, he founded the ''Société universelle du théâtre'' with the support of the
League of Nations
The League of Nations (LN or LoN; , SdN) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference (1919–1920), Paris Peace ...
.
It stopped functioning in 1939 at the outbreak of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, but has been cited as a predecessor to
UNESCO's International Theatre Institute
The International Theatre Institute ITI is the world’s largest performing arts organisation, founded in 1948 by theatre and dance experts and UNESCO.
It has hosted various events through its history, including the Theatre of Nations, an intern ...
.
Personal life
He was married to French actress
Andrée Megard.
Theaters he directed
*
Théâtre de la Rénaissance (1901–1902)
* Théâtre Antoine (1906-1921)
* Théâtre National Ambulant (1911–1912)
* Comédie Montaigne (1919–1920)
* Théâtre National Populaire (1920-1921)
* Odéon (1922-1930)
References
1869 births
1933 deaths
People from Aubervilliers
Male actors from Île-de-France
{{Theat-director-stub