Willem Dafoe has a lot in store for this year’s Venice Film Festival. Not only is he starring in the festival’s opener Beetlejuice, but he’ll also be taking on duties as the newly appointed artistic director of the Venice Biennale Theatre Department, the festival’s parent organization.
In an interview with Variety, the actor talked about the demands of his new position, and revealed what attracted him to this challenging role. “It will be interesting. It will be a challenge. I will learn something. It’s an honor,” he said.
The actor received a call from Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, who told Dafoe what the job involved, which immediately piqued his interest. Dafoe said of Buttafuoco, “I like the fact that he appreciates my background and believes that maybe we could create some interesting programs.”
Talking about the current theatre scenario and the reforms he brings in as the new director, Poor Things actor Willem Dafoe admitted that he doesn’t know much about the contemporary theatre scenario but coming from a theatre background, he understands the essence of it. “I focus on the body and the poetry that the body can express,” he said.
According to Dafoe, theatre performances are not just about narrative or psychology, but about the beauty of the artist in a space. His intention is to focus as little on technical aspects as possible and instead create an environment driven by the artist/actor, providing a free and open space for all.
When asked how he would implement these changes, The Lighthouse actor replied that he would interact with people and share his experiences. He said, “The most beautiful thing is when you connect with people.”
Through these conversations, Dafoe said he wants to reassure artists that they can feel free in this space and create something together. Many of the people he has reached out to have embraced his vision. “They are responding by making new works or reworking their past works,” he said.
Dafoe’s upcoming film Beetlejuice will premiere at the Venice Film Festival on August 28 and will be released in theaters on September 6.
