Biennale Teatro 2021: Warlikowski and Tempest Win Golden Lions

The Biennale di Venezia has awarded its 2021 Teatro Golden Lions to Polish director Krzysztof Warlikowski (Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement) and British poet-performer Kae Tempest (Silver Lion). The decision was made by the Biennale's Board of Directors, accepting the proposal of ricci/forte (Stefano Ricci and Gianni Forte), directors of the Theatre sector. Warlikowski is recognized for over two decades of renewing European theatrical language through cinematic and visual references, creating powerful links between performance and audience. His works have been presented at major international festivals including Festival d'Avignon, Edinburgh International Festival, and BAM's Next Wave Festival. Tempest, born Kate Esther Calvert in Westminster (1985), came out as non-binary in 2020 and uses they/them pronouns. Known for blending high and low culture, hip hop and classical myths, their poetry collections include "Hold Your Own" (Edizioni E/O) and plays such as "Wasted," "Hopelessly Devoted," and "Paradise" (a rewriting of Sophocles' Philoctetes). Tempest's latest reading, "The Book of Traps & Lessons," will premiere in Italy at the 49th International Theatre Festival (July 2–11, 2021), where the awards ceremony will take place.