Fernando Arrabal

Fernando Arrabal, born on August 11, 1932, in Melilla (Spain), is a Spanish-born writer, playwright, poet, and filmmaker who later became a French citizen. He is a key figure in contemporary theatre and co-founded the Panique movement in 1962 with Roland Topor and Alejandro Jodorowsky, embracing a form of art infused with absurdity, dreamlike imagery, and provocation. Arrabal’s work spans novels, essays, poetry, and especially theatre, where he is known for his fierce critiques of authority, religion, and war. His unique style blends surrealism, political engagement, dark humor, and visual extravagance, creating a body of work that defies conventional categorization. His plays, translated and performed worldwide, established him as an internationally renowned author. Based in Paris since the 1950s, Arrabal has remained a bold and unrestrained creator, embodying the spirit of an uncompromising and total artist.