Olivier Py

Born in 1965, Olivier Py is a writer, actor, director and producer. Trained at ENSATT and the Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique, he also studied philosophy and theology. At the age of 32, he becomes director of the Centre Dramatique National d'Orléans. In March 2007, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres appoints him Director of the Théâtre de l'Odéon. That same year, he presides over the 3rd edition of the Grand Prix de littérature dramatique.

Most of his works have been published by Actes Sud-Papiers, including La Servante, Les Vainqueurs, Le Visage d'Orphée, L'Exaltation du labyrinthe and L'Apocalypse joyeuse.

In 2002, he directs With closed eyes, a TV film in Arte's "Petites caméras" series, shot with digital video cameras.

He is a laureate of the Fondation Beaumarchais, winner of the Nouveau Talent Théâtre/SACD Prize in 1996 and the Young Theater Prize of the Académie française (2002). He is also the author of Paradis de tristesse and Les parisiens, which wins the Transfuge Prize for Best French Novel 2016.

He is director of the Avignon Festival from 2013 to 2022. In 2022, he writes and directs Ma jeunesse exaltée for his last Festival d'Avignon. In 2023, he is appointed Director of the Théâtre du Châtelet by the Mayor of Paris.