Robert Sturua
Born in Georgia, in 1938, Robert Sturua studied under Mikhail Tumanishvili at the Tbilisi State Theater Institute. He graduated in 1961 and began his career at the Shota Rustaveli Theater, where since 1962 he has been a director at the Rustaveli Theatre in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 1972-79 he has been the member of the directing board, since 1979- the leading director and in 1980-2011 he became an Artistic Director of the Rustaveli Theatre. In 2011 he was appointed as a leading director at theatre “ET CETERA” in Moscow, Russia.
The 70-80-ies can be considered as the golden age of the Rustaveli Theatre. The theatre criticism acquires a new term – “Sturua’s theatre”, and his best performances are staged: the director’s profound show – “Kvarkvare” by P. Kakabadze, “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” by B. Brecht – a legendary performance, which has entered the list of the best shows of the 20th century and Shakespeare’s “Richard III” and prophetic “King Lear”…
Robert Sturua is a profound Georgia director and an acclaimed interpreter of Shakespeare. He has staged over 100 performances for the Rustaveli Theatre and turned each premiere into a special event. Robert Sturua’s creative world is rich and divers and his productions were performed worldwide. He has staged 17 Shakespeare performances in different theatres of the world. “Hamlet” of the Riverside Studio, London (1992), with Alan Rickman in the title role was included into 10 best productions of the play in the world in the last 50 years by the Shakespeare International Association, “Hamlet” of the Satiricon Theatre (2002), Moscow, received the highest theatre prize of Russia – the Golden Mask, and “Hamlet” of the Rustaveli Theatre (2001) has traveled the world. The Rustaveli Theatre was hailed in the world for Sturua’s “King Lear “(is included in a guideline book of the history of staging Shakespearean plays at the British Academy), “Hamlet” and “Richard III” (is among the best ten world political performances in magazine ”The Theatre”) along with “The Caucasian Chalk Circle”(which is among the highly acclaimed hundred shows in the world.)
He has received all prestigious prizes and awards available in Georgia and internationally, among them the title of the People’s Artist, State Prizes, the Order of Merit of Georgia, the Golden Medal of the President of Georgia for Development of Theatre, the Medal of the Cathalicos-Patriarch of Georgia and others. From the international awards of importance are the Albert Schweitzer Award, the Chaplin Club Award, the State Award of Argentina, Russian “Chaika” (the Seagull), the Stanislavski Award, many other English and Italian Press Awards including “The title of the World Theatre Ambassador” and many others.
R.Sturua – Awards, Prizes
1975 – Albert Schweithzer Prize;
1976 – Honored Artist of Georgia;
1976 – The Kote Marjanishvili Prize (“Kvarkvare);
1979 – The State Prize of the USSR (“The Caucasian Chalk Circle”);
1980 – The title of the People’s Artist of Georgia;
1980 – The English Critics’ Prize;
1981 – The Italian Critics’ Prize;
1981 – The Shota Rustaveli Prize (“Richard III”);
1982 – The title of the People’s Artist of the USSR;
1988 – The prize of the State University of Argentina;
1992 – The Shakespeare’s International Society included the production of “Hamlet” at the Riverside Studio into the list of ten best productions of “Hamlet” of 20th century;
1996 – The title of the People’s Artist of Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia (“Flight”);
1996 – The State Prize of Georgia (“Macbeth”);
1996 – Grand-prix at the Rustavi festival “Golden Mask” (“Macbeth”);
1996 – Honorable Citizen of Tbilisi; 1997 – The Mikheil Tumanishvili prize;
1997 – The Georgian Theatre Society prize “The Best Production of the Year” in the nomination “The Best Stage-directing” (“The Serpent Woman”);
1998 – The Golden Medal at Rustavi festival “Golden Mask”;
1998 – The Order of Merit of Georgia;
1998 – Grand-prix at the festival “Baltic House” (“What if the Wet Lilac Is Wet”);
1998 – The Chaplin Club Award;
1999 – The Alexandre Kazbegi prize;
2000 – The State Prize of the Russian Federation;
2000 – The Golden Medal at Rustavi festival “Golden Mask”;
2001 – “The Patriarch of the Theatre” at the VI ceremony of awarding the theatre prize “Chaika” (Seagull);
2002 – The Polikarpe Kakabadze prize;
2002 – The Stanisklavski international prize for contributing to the development of the theatrical art;
2003 – The prize “Golden Mask” (“Sior Todero”, the Theatre Satiricon);
2003 – Grand-prix “Golden Mask” at Rustavi festival (“Hamlet”);
2005 – The title of the best stage-director (“Styx”, awarded by the magazine “Faces”);
2006 – Grand-pirx at the eighth international theatre festival “Baltic House”;
2006 – Sergo Parajanov International prize;
2006 – The Association of the Theatre Historians and Critics of Argentina (ACE) acknowledged “The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui” as the best in 7 nominations (the San Martine Theatre, Buenos Aires);
2008 – The Order of Friendship – awarded for the contribution in and promotion of the Russian culture and arts, and for strengthening the cultural links between Russia and Georgia;
2009 – The title of honorary doctor awarded by Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgian State University;
2009 – Special prize of the Journalists International Fund “Gold Pen”;
2009 – Giorgi Tovstonogov Prize for the significant contribution in the development of the theatrical art;
2009 – Ilia Chavchavadze medal for special merits in Georgian culture and spirituality;
2012 – March 11 – “The hit of the season” (“The Tempest”, Theatre “Et Cetera”, awarded by the Russian Theatrical Society);
2012 – March 27 – Grand-prix (“The Hunting Season”, The best works of 2010-2011 seasons);
2012 – June 16 – The theatrical award “Duruji” – in the nomination “the best director” (“The Hunting Season”);
2013 – April 16 – “Golden Mask” for the contribution in the theatrical art;
2013 – July 31 – St Nino Golden order awarded by the patriarch for the contribution in the theatrical art (Robert Sturua’s 75 anniversary);
2014 – March 27 – Grand-prix of Georgian Theatrical Society “The Best Theatrical Work” (“Maria Callas. Master Class”)
2014-September – Critics association in Argentina awarded his performance “Mourning Becomes Electra” by 5 grand prizes (The best performance “Grand Prize”, the best director – Robert Sturua, the episode female role – Maria Figuera, the best scenography – Abriel Caputo, the best lighting designer – Felix Monty.
2014 –November – International Theatre Institute (ITI) has honored the title of the World Theatre Ambassador for his invaluable legacy in theatre. (the 34th congress of International Theatre Institute in Erevan, Armenia.
R. Sturua’s Performances Abroad:
1. D.Kldiashvili – “Samanishvili’s Stepmother”. Saarbrücken, The Municipal Theatre. The premiere – 1974
2. A.Ostrovsky – “Mad Money”. Düsseldorf, Schauspielhaus. The premiere – 1977
3. Shakespeare – “As You Like It”. Düsseldorf, Schauspielhaus. The premiere – 13.09.1980
4. Sophocles – “Electra”, Athens Theatre, Festival of ancient Greek drama. The premiere – 1986
5. M.Shatrov – “The Peace of Brest”. Moscow, Vakhtangov Theatre. The premiere – 10.11.1987
6. B.Brecht – “Mother Courage”, Buenos Aires, The Cervantes National Theatre.
The premiere – 11.11.1988
7. Sophocles – “Oedipus the King”. Athens, Athenaeum Theatre. The premiere – 1989
8. Molière – “Tartuffe”. Tel Aviv, Gabima Theatre. The premiere – 27.12.1989
9. Chekhov – “Three Sisters”. London, Queen’s Theatre. The premiere – 1990
10. P. Tchaikovsky – “Evgeni Onegin”. Bologna, Municipal Opera Theatre. The premiere – 1990
11. Shakespeare – “The Comedy of Errors”. Helsinki, National Theatre. The premiere – 1991
12. Shakespeare – “Hamlet”. London, Riverside Studios. The premiere – 09.091992 (The Shakespeare’s International Society included the performance into the list of ten best productions of “Hamlet” of 20th century)
13. Sophocles – “Antigone”. Istanbul, The Municipal Theatre. The premiere – 1994
14. Chekhov – “The Seagull”. London, Queen’s Theatre. The premiere – 1995
15. H.Levin – “Open-mouthed”. Tel Aviv, Chamber Theatre. The premiere – 1995
16. Shakespeare – “Measure for Measure”. Helsinki, National Theatre. The premiere – 23.03.1995
17. B.Brecht – “Visions of Simone Machard”. Buenos Aires, President Alvear Theatre. The premiere – 1997
18. Shakespeare – “Hamlet”. Moscow, Theatre Satiricon. The premiere – 1998
19. S.Slominski – “The Visions of Ivan Grozni”, Samara Opera Theatre. The premiere – 20.02.1999
20. Shakespeare – “Coriolanus”. Athens, Amphitheatre Herodes, The premiere – 27.07.1999
21. Shakespeare – “The Merchant of Venice”, Buenos Aires. The premiere – 20.10.1999
22. G.Kancheli – “Music for the Living”, Weimar, Opera Theatre. The premiere – 17.12.1999 23. Shakespeare – “The Merchant of Venice”, Moscow, Theatre “Et Cetera”. The premiere – 25.04.2000
24. Shakespeare – “Twelfth Night or What You Will”. Sofia, National Theatre. The premiere – 26.04.2001
25. C.Goldoni – “Sior Todero”. Moscow, Theatre Satiricon. The premiere – 15.03.2002
26. Beckett – “Krapp’s Last Tape”. Moscow. Theatre “Et Cetera”. The premiere – 04.11.2002 27. P.Tchaikovsky – “The Queen of Spades”. Rome, Opera Theatre. The premiere – 2002.
28. Sophocles – “Oedipus the King”. Kiev, I.Franko National Theatre. The premiere – 02.05.2003
29. P.Tchaikovsky – “Mazeppa”. Moscow, Bolshoi Theatre. The premiere – 30.01.2004
30. Shakespeare – “Hamlet”. Ankara, The State Theatre. The premiere – 08.05.2004
31. Shakespeare – “Romeo and Juliet”. Moscow, Pushkin Theatre. The premiere – 04.07.2004
32. B.Brecht – “The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui”. Buenos Aires, San Martin Theatre. The premiere – 2005.
33. Shakespeare – “King Lear”. Jerusalem, Chamber Theatre. The premiere – 03.05.2007
34. Shakespeare – “The Tempest”. Moscow, Theatre “Et Cetera”. The premiere – 25.09.2010
35. Shakespeare – “Taming of the Shrew”. Athens. The premiere – 25.03.2011
36. Tarik Noui – “A Fine Place to Feed the Dogs”. Moscow. Theatre “Et Cetera”. The premiere – 25.09.2012
37. Shakespeare – “The Comedy of Errors”. Moscow. Theatre “Et Cetera”. The premiere – 03.12.2013
38. E. O’Neill – “Mourning Becomes Electra”, Buenos Aires, San Martin Theatre, The premiere – 08.05.2014
Performances directed by Robert Sturua in the Rustaveli Theatre:
1. V.Blažek – “The Third Wish”. The premiere – 02.01.1963
2. R. Sturua/ G. Kavtaradze “Accusation”. Composer – G.Kancheli. The premiere – 28.06.1964 3. V.Rozov – “Before Supper”. The premiere – 12.11.1963 (Small stage)
4. V. Rozov “Evening of Poetry”. Staging director – M.Tumanishvili, Directors –R. Sturua and others. The premiere – 13.01.1964
5. A.Miller – “The Trial of Salem”. The premiere – 19.02.1965
6. J.Robert – “Meeting” (Marie-Octobre). The premiere – 08.09.1965
7. N.Dumbadze – “Sunny Night”. The premiere – 07.06.1966
8. Sh.Rustaveli – “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”. (Composition by R.Ebralidze), The premiere – 27.09.1966
9. E.Labiche – “The Italian Straw Hat”. The premiere – 27.05.1967
10. A.Tsagareli – “Khanuma”. The premiere – 01.10.1968
11. B.Brecht – “The Good Person of Szechwan”. The premiere – 15.06.1969
12. D.Kldiashvili – “Samanishvili’s Stepmother”. The premiere – 13.12.1969
13. “The Evening of Georgian Verse”. The premiere – 29.03.1970 (Small stage)
14. S.Zhgenti – “The Children of Earth”. The premiere – 17.04.1970
15. A.Sulakauri – “Salamura”. The premiere – 01.01.1971
16. J.Anouilh – “Medea”. The premiere – 30.09.1971
17. “Our Melodies”. The premiere – 13.07.1972
18. H.Ibsen “Dr. Stockmann”. The premiere – 04.11.1972
19. N.Dumbadze “The Indictment”. The premiere – 28.03.1973
20. R.Tabukashvili – “The Secretary of District Committee”. The premiere – 06.02.1974
21. P.Kakabadze – “Kvarkvare”. The premiere – 22.02.1974 A.Sumbatashvili-Yuzhin “Betrayal”
22. A.Sumbatashvili-Yuzhin – “Betrayal”. The premiere – 16.11.1974
23. B.Brecht – “The Caucasian Chalk Circle”. The premiere – 12.09.1975
24. A.Gelman – “Beginning”. The premiere – 25.12.1975
25. E.Shvarts – “The Dragon”. The premiere – 15.10.1976
26. N.Dumbadze – “Me, Grandma, Iliko and Ilarion”. The premiere – 14.03.1977
27. E.Gabrielovich, I. Raizman – “Our Contemporary”. The premiere – 06.11.1977
28. W.Shakespeare – “Richard III”. The premiere – 11.02.1979
29. T.Chiladze – “The Role For The Beginner Actress”. The premiere – 14.01.1980
30. Shatrov – “Blue Horses on Red Grass”. The premiere – 22.04.1980
31. R.Sturua, A.Varsimahsvili, L.Popkhadze – “Variations on Modern Subject”. The premiere – 27.01.1981
32. W.Lewis – “The Belle From Amherst”. The premiere – 31.12.1981
33. R. Ibragimbekov – “The Funeral in California”. The premiere – 01.01.1983
34. Al.Chkaidze – – “From Three to Six”. The premiere – 31.05.1984
35. M.Kveselava – “The Day of Hundred Ergasteriums”. The premiere – 13.04.1985
36. A.Chichinadze, R.Sturua – “Concerto for Two Violins Accompanied by Oriental Instruments”. The premiere – 24.01.1986
37. W.Shakespeare – “King Lear”. The premiere – 28.04.1987
38. “Mother of God”. Author and Producer – R.Sturua, The premiere – 26.05.1989
39. D.Turashvili – “The Dialogues for the Play in Two Acts”. The premiere – 05.10.1990
40. “A Christmas Dream”. (According to Ch.Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”). Staging manager – R.Sturua. The premiere – 13.02.1993
41. P.Calderón de la Barca – “Life Is a Dream”. The premiere – 22.07.1992 Seville, 02.04.1993 Tbilisi
42. B.Brecht – “The Good Person of Szechwan”. The premiere – 28.12.1993
43. “Gospel According to Jacob”. (according to I.Gogebashvili’s “Mother Language”) Author and Producer – R.Sturua, The premiere – 27.09.1994
44. Shakespeare – “Macbeth”. The premiere – 19.06.1995 St. Petersburg, 15.09.1995 Tbilisi
45. G.Robakidze – “Lamara”. The premiere – 26.01.1997
46. L.Tabukashvili – “What if the Wet Lilac Is Wet”. The premiere – 26.02.1997
47. C.Gozzi – “The Serpent Woman”. The premiere – 08.01.1998
48. T.Chiladze – “An Attendance Day”. The premiere – 03.06.1999
49. I.Chavchavadze – “Is He a Human this Man?” The premiere – 01.07.2000
50. Shakespeare – “Twelfth Night or What You Will”. The premiere – 02.02.2001
51. Shakespeare – “Hamlet”. The premiere – 21.11.2001
52. S.Becket – “Waiting for Godot”. The premiere – 29.09.2002
53. “Styx”. The premiere – 25.11.2004
54. L.Bugadze – “Soldier, Love, Bodyguard, and President”. The premiere – 25.11. 2005
55. D.Kldiashvili – “Misfortune of Darispan”. The premiere – 10.02.2006
56. R.Rose – “Twelve Angry Men”. The premiere – 24.03. 2006
57. I.Samsonadze – “Sweet, Sad Scent of Vanilla”. The premiere – 05.08. 2006
58. A.Nothomb – “The Mask of Foe” The premiere – 16.01.2007 (Small stage)
59. T.Chiladze – “Birdie Dies in Glen”. The premiere – 06.12.2007
60. A.Sulakauri – “Salamura”. The premiere – 30.12.2007
61. F.Dürrenmatt – “Play Strindberg”. The premiere – 28.10.2008
62. M.Frisch – “Biederman and the Fire Raisers”. The premiere – 07.10. 2009
63. O.Wilde – “The Star-Child”. The premiere – 03.01.2010
64. T.Chiladze – “The Hunting Season”. The premiere – 07.07.2011
65. Terrence McNally – “Maria Callas. Master Class”. The premiere – 25.06.2013
66. Mark Twain – “The Prince and the Pauper”. The premiere – 30.12.2013.
67. P.Kakabadze “ASULNI (Ascended) – The Premiere 16.09.2014.
68. W. Shakespeare “Julius Caesar”, The Premiere – 01.06.2015.
69. B.Brecht “Ordered Disorder (The Exception and the Rule), the premiere – 25.05.2016.
70. L. Tabukashvili “Somewhere over the Rainbow”, premiere – 21.01.2017.
