André Obey

Who was André Obey?

André Obey was a prominent French playwright during the inter-war years, and into the 1950s.

He began as a novelist and produced an autobiographical novel about his adolescence le Joueur de triangle. After his meeting with Jacques Copeau, he devoted himself completely to dramatic works. In 1945 Obey became provisional general administrator of the Comédie-Française. He was made full general administrator in 1946, and resigned in 1947 after just under a year's service.

Obey's play Le Viol de Lucrèce was drawn on by Ronald Duncan for the libretto of Benjamin Britten's opera The Rape of Lucretia.

Obey served as general administrator of the Comédie-Française, in a provisional capacity from October 1945 until 6 April 1946, then with full powers until his resignation on 5 February 1947.