Portrait of Willem Royaards

Person depicted Willem Royaards (1867-1929)
Artist Mari Andriessen (1897-1979)
Medium Bronze bust
Year 1928

Willem Royaards is one of the great innovators of Dutch theatre. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries he raised the art form to a higher level, working above all with Eduard Verkade. He introduced total theatre and adapted many literary works for the stage. Generations of actors were trained by Royaards, while he continued to perform himself. For his major contribution to literature he was awarded an honorary doctorate in letters.