The Art of Darkness

Grand Guignol

January 22nd, 2008 by Cobwebs

PosterThe Grand Guignol was a Parisian theater founded in 1867 whose staple was macabre “horror plays.” It was immensely influential on the art of horror performance and special effects, and the term “Grand Guignol” has come to mean any dramatic entertainment that features over-the-top horror and violence.

Thrillpeddlers is a contemporary San Francisco theater group that’s translating oroginal Grand Guignol plays and bringing them back to the stage, and they’ve put together a clearinghouse of information about the theater. The site features some wonderful vintage posters; it’d be nice if someone sold reproductions of these.

Link (via BoingBoing)

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