Jan Ritsema (1945–2021)

On October 11, well-known director and theatre maker Jan Ritsema passed away. His significance for the world of theatre is particularly great, as he founded Mugmetdegoudentand, was at the origin of Toneelgroep Amsterdam, and started and run the only Dutch publishing company for theater and film books, including the Theater bookshop.

In 2006, Ritsema founded the Performing Arts Forum (PAF) in France. He bought a majestic walled cloister near Reims to be used by artists, scientists and philosophers. Initiated and run by artists, theoreticians, and practitioners themselves, PAF is a user-created, user-innovative informal institution. Neither a production-house and venue nor a research center, it is a platform for everyone who wants to expand possibilities and interests in his/her own working practice.

From 1990 until 1995 Jan Ritsema was advisor at the Rijksakademie.