Georgian stage director Temur Chkheidze returns home to teach

An influential Georgian theatre director is returning to work in his homeland after a long career in Russia.

For many years Temur Ckheidze has worked in the Drama Theatre of St. Petersburg, Russia, but has returned home and was now leading the recently established Contemporary Theatrical Art Development Centre, which opened at the beginning of October in Tbilisi.

The Centre was based on the Royal District Theatre and aimed to provide a new qualified generation of artists. The Center would also act as a workshop where aspiring directors, playwrights and analysts could learn new industry skills and improve their knowledge and ability over two academic years.

Chkheidze, a Georgian stage director, was honoured with the titles ‘People Artist of Georgia in 1981 and the ‘People Artist of Russia’ in 1994. He was also the recipient of the Lenin prize in 1986.

In his early career he was the director of Georgia’s three theatres - the Municipal Zugdidi Drama Theatre, Georgia´s Young Spectators Theatre and the Tbilisi Academic Rustaveli Theatre.

Over the years Chkhaidze has installed more than 70 plays on Georgian and world famous theatre stages.