René Allio (1924-1995), born in Marseille, studied literature and fine arts before devoting himself to painting and then moving into theatre decoration. Attached to the Théâtre de la Cité in Villeurbanne (1958-1969), he worked closely with Roger Planchon, arguing against the descriptive use of scenery and in favour of highlighting materials.He has worked for numerous institutions in France and abroad, including the TNP at the Palais de Chaillot, the Comédie-Française, the Renaud-Barrault company, the Théâtre du Châtelet, the Théâtre National de Strasbourg, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the English National Opera, the Piccolo Teatro in Milan, the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, the Schauspielhaus in Bochum and the Cologne Opera House. As a set designer, he also contributed to the architectural design of new theatres, including the Théâtre de la Ville, the Théâtre de Villeurbanne, the Théâtre de la Commune in Aubervilliers, the Maison de la Culture in Lyon, and built the new open-air theatre in Hammamet, Tunisia.But it is the film-maker who is best known to the general public, notably for La Vieille Dame indigne (1962), Les Camisards (1970), Rude journée pour la Reine (1973), Moi, Pierre Rivière... (1976), Retour à Marseille (1980). In Fontblanche (Bouches-du-Rhône), he founded the Centre de Création Cinématographique Méditerranéenne.He has worked on several ballets by Roland Petit: Notre-Dame de Paris, L'Arlésienne, Proust ou les intermittences du cœur, etc.