Johan Simons
Johan Simons (born 1 September 1946) is a Dutch theatre director. Simons received his education at the Rotterdam Dance Academy and the Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Arts. He also taught directing in Maastricht for a number of years.
Johan Simons
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- Name
- Johan Simons
- Born
- 1 September 1946
- Birthplace
- Heerjansdam, Netherlands
- Occupation
- Theatre director, teacher
- Nationality
- Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Fields
- directing · opera directing · theater management
- Education
- Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Arts
- Honours
- Dr. J.P. van Praag-prijs · Honorary doctors of Ghent University · Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds award · Nestroy Theatre Prize · Europe Theatre Prize
- Languages
- Dutch · German
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Johan Simons (born 1 September 1946) is a Dutch theatre director. Simons received his education at the Rotterdam Dance Academy and the Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Arts. He also taught directing in Maastricht for a number of years.
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wikidata · Q327891 · wikipedia · Johan Simons
In this article
Biography
Biography
Johan Simons studied at Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Arts. The recorded working language is Dutch and German. The field of work recorded is directing, opera directing and theater management. Places of work recorded in the authority are Ghent. Employment is recorded with Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Arts. Distinctions recorded are Dr.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Johan Simons • Born — 1 September 1946 • Birthplace — Heerjansdam, Netherlands • Occupation — Theatre director, teacher
Career
Career
Since 2000, Simons has received international recognition for his directing. He has been regularly invited as a guest director for leading German-language theatre companies, including the Schauspielhaus Zürich, the Schauspielhaus Stuttgart, the Ruhrtriennale, and the Münchner Kammerspiele. In addition to directing plays, he has directed several operas, including Verdi's Simon Boccanegra at the Opéra Bastille in 2006 and Mozart's Il Seraglio at the De Nederlandse Opera in 2008. Simons was appointed artistic director of the Münchner Kammerspiele in 2010. He was the director of the Ruhrtriennale from 2015 to 2017. Simons caused controversy by directing a play in Austria in 2015 called "Die Neger" ("The Negroes"), which used blackface, prompting protests and accusations of racism.
Identity
Identity
J.P. van Praag-prijs, Honorary doctors of Ghent University and Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds award. Recorded as theatre manager, scenographer, lighting designer, installation artist and director.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1946
Johan Simons born at Heerjansdam.
Europe Theatre Prize
In 2000, Johan Simons and Paul Koek received the Europe Prize Theatrical Realities awarded to the Hollandia Theatergroep, with the following motivation: The Hollandia Theatergroep, founded in 1985 by choreographer/director Johan Simons and composer/director Paul Koek, holds an important position in the Dutch theatre world. From the outset the group's plays have been distinguished by their ensemble dimension and by their capacity to become integrated with places outside the usual theatre circuits. The Hollandia Theatergroep has devoted itself to theatrical research without ever disassociating itself from a strong participation in current social and political debates. The Hollandia Theatergroep has based its exploration of language on famous texts, especially ancient and modern tragedies, but also on non-theatrical literary motifs. In addition, the group has developed a mix of languages that permits it to perform within the sphere of the theatre, dance and the most sophisticated musical expressions. The Hollandia Theatergroep's appeal lies in the variety of fields it explores and in the poetical power of its performances that are charged with unusual polemical force. The group deserves European and international acclaim. It is exceptional.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Goethe Institut. Johan Simons.
- 2.Kriechbaum, Reinhard. Die Neger – Johan Simons sucht im Text von Jean Genet in einem Licht- und Schattenspiel bei den Wiener Festwochen nach dem leider Unverrottbaren im Rassismus-Müll. www.nachtkritik.de.
- 3.VIII Edizione. Premio Europa per il Teatro.
- 4.Europe Theatre Prize - VIII Edition - Reasons. archivio.premioeuropa.org.
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Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Johan Simons worked in directing, opera directing and theater management. He was employed by Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Arts. He belonged to Academy of Arts, Berlin. He worked at Ghent. Simons received Dr.
Career and activity
Recognition and collections
J.P. van Praag-prijs, Honorary doctors of Ghent University, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds award, Nestroy Theatre Prize and Europe Theatre Prize
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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