 At the time of his death, Koltès was considered to be one of the most important young voices in French theatre, and heir apparent to the legacy left by post-war playwrights such as Samuel Beckett, Jean Cocteau and Jean Genet.His plays have since become staples on the modern repertory around the world, having been translated into more than 36 languages.Born in 1948 to a middle-class family in Metz, his life was violent and anchored in revolt.