Karel Van Rijn

Karel Van Rijn started his career in 1887 as a supernumerary on 'De Koninklijke Nederlandse Schouwburg' in Antwerp. He started at school his own stage-group 'De Goudbloem' (1888-1890). From 1892 till he worked as an actor with 'Het Lyrisch Toneel' in Antwerp. In 1893 he started to studying arts on the academy of dramatic arts in Antwerp. A year later he started to act in Gent on 'Het Nederlands Toneel'. He stayed with this company till 1895. In 1895 he moved again from Gent to Antwerp where he became actor and second director on 'De Vlaamse Opera '(The Flemish Opera). Staying in Antwerp he moved in 1897 from De Vlaamse Opera to 'De Koninklijke Nederlandse Schouwburg', a company where he was an actor till 1914. During World War I, he moved from Antwerp to Amsterdam, where he worked with 'Het Toneel' till 1919. He worked again in Antwerp as actor and first director on the 'Hippodroomschouwburg'. In 1920 we found him again on 'De Koninklijke Nederlandse schouwburg' where he stayed again for 2 years. From Antwerp this voyager moved again to Gent where he became from 1922 till 1931 head of 'De Koninklijke Nederlandse Schouwburg'. He worked there not only as the manager but also as an actor. In 1929 he was also asked to work for the Flemisch Radio (N.I.R.), where he became actor and director for radio plays. He did this job till 1943. This first director of a Flemish movie was also active as a writer of stage-plays and operettas.