From archives of
Rustaveli Theatre Museum:
| Nanuka Sephashvili|
Gogi Gegechkori:
“For the first time I was baptized as an actor in 14th
public school, in forth grade. From that exact day theatre became my passion.
My brother was an actor too and I decided to study in institute of theatre. In
1940 I became a student of acting faculty and I was lucky for my teachers who
were perfect artists: D. Aleksidze, G. Tovstonogov, M. Mrevlishvili and others.
The period in institute gave me an unforgettable experience and education, I’ve
played lots of roles on training stage, I’ve discovered many professional
secrets while studying in institute, I’ve believed in possibility of really
making something on the stage. And at last I occurred in Rustaveli Theatre with Akaki Khorava’s support. I
remember the feeling for my first serious role on the main stage. After that
was the play “First step” where I played Bakhva Farulava. These were my first
steps in Rustaveli Theatre.
In
1949 “Baratashvili” was staged. The director D. Aleksidze gave me Baratashvili’s
role. Three days before the premiere Rustaveli Theatre building completely
burnt so we played the premiere on Opera Theatre stage. In short time Rustaveli
theatre was rebuild and we moved on playing “Baratashvili” there. The play was
performed more than 200 times. This play
won an unprecedented success.
It was
unusual to play in “Samanishvili’s Stepmother” just because of the fact that I was
performance leader and Platon’s role
performer at the same time. It was something strange, I had to transform from
one role to another and find golden mean between these two.
This
play had a great success, many viewers saw it, we performed it many times
and it was one of the first plays that theatre took abroad like guest performance
in federative republic of Germany.
“My life is closely connected with this role
and this role totally follows me everywhere."
The mystery of our profession is that you
have to feel while coming out on the stage, that you’re playing for the first time, like
on the premiere. This is the secret of theatre artist’s cuisine – as for the
first time. This is very difficult. In spite
of the fact that I’ve played many roles, I tried to follow this thesis.
I’ve played great roles, there were about ten
roles that I’ve played well, the rests – so-so, and many of them I’ve played
poorly too. I’m not that person to boast with my roles…
But if I never ever enter
my make-up room, or never sit in front of my mirror and never do my make-up, I’ll
be done, this will be huge full stop in my life. What can I do, I’m here in
this theatre yet and playing a little bit…”
Contemporaries about Gogi Gegechkori:
M.Tumanishvili:
“Gogi
Gegechkori is an artist from the bottom
to the top. His talent is gifted from nature, he is very hardworking and organized
person. Gogi Gegechkori’s talent is limitless, his pallete is full of different
colors. He is completely devoted to his job.”
Medea
Chkakhava:
We’ve
gone through a school with G. Tovstonogov, M. Tumanishvili when we were young we became intimately
linked with each other that we couldn’t
live separately without one another. We are working on a new play
nowadays and when I begin thinking at home, I’m thinking about him, because he
is my partner, I have to convent every new scene that I think over with his
thoughts. The feeling of partnership means respecting each other and it means total
exclusion of selfishness.
Gogi is a remarkable partner, he is also very interesting for the
director, because he always comes with new suggestions on the rehearsals. He is
creative, hardworking, studious…”
Natela Ururshadze:
“sometimes a person is the same everywhere,
sometimes radically different. Gogi is very strict but firstly with himself. But
in general he is mild person but he has huge inner discipline.
Once in the market the saleswoman recognized me and
couldn’t recognize Gogi. It seemed that
lady didn’t go to the theatre or to the cinema, but she was watching
television. Gogi was mad, this is the inner nature of a real artist, because
their profession leaves only popularity and people’s love for them. When we got married he was playing “Baratashvili”
and I could freely say that I married to a romantic poet but time has passed
and this poet transformed into the wolf from “Chinchraka”. I was kind of terrified but I didn’t know
what was waiting for me next. After a little while there was born a murderer,
recidivist Tigran Guloian which lives longon this stage yet. After came witch
in “Macbeth” and I thought that it was the end of my torment but no. Now Gogi has a new role of perdon from the
afterlife and now you decide the beginning and the ending of this part of my
life”.
Vasil Kiknadze:
Gentleman of Georgian theatre- I often
repeat these words while talking about Gogi Gegechkori.
Georgia has planty of artistic talent,
sometimes I think that whole Georgia is an artist – in general Georgian always
plays some role. Akhmeteli was first to say that. And before him ages ago
foreigners said that Georgians always play to show and perform, but the be a
real gentleman is totally different.
I’ve
worked with Gogi Gegechkori for 10 years in Rustaveli Theatre. There were happy
years. He gave me so much human and creative happiness. I met him while being a
student. Gogi Gegechkori went through a big creative path. He must be
happy that he never stopped in thins investigation of that little grain that
was shining out from his spirit. And the audience was happy because that light
beam shone into their soles too.
if I begin listing Mr. Gogi’s roles
there won’t be enough paper, each face is separate theme to talk. There are lots of things that belongs to
history like Georgian acting art which is aged more than half of the century.
This
is a great wealth!
Translated by Tatia Tukhashvili
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