Oleksandr Kobzar

• Oleksandr Mykolayovych Kobzar
• Date of birth – May 18, 1976
• City – Kyiv (Ukraine)
• Language – Ukrainian
• Activities – theater and film actor, director, producer

Becoming an artist

Oleksandr Kobzar is a Ukrainian theater and film actor, director and producer, Honored Artist of Ukraine. A native of Kyiv, Oleksandr graduated from the Ivan Karpenko-Kary Kyiv National University of Theater, Film and Television in 2000. He studied on the course of People's Artist of Ukraine B. P. Stavytsky. In 2005, he received a diploma in drama theater directing from the same university (K. M. Dubinin's course).

He made his acting debut during his student years on the stage of the Kyiv Academic Drama and Comedy Theater on the left bank of the Dnieper. Surrounded by the stars of the Ukrainian art industry, the young artist, possessing powerful charisma, felt natural and enjoyed each new role. Energy and talent opened the door for the actor to wide recognition and popularity among avid theatergoers and moviegoers.

Creative path

Oleksandr Kobzar began collaborating with the creative team of the Theater on the Left Bank of the Dnieper in 2004. The actor's activities in the team lasted until 2016. Over the past decade, the army of fans has grown and the artist's repertoire has expanded. Oleksandr has played in the following performances:

1. "To tempt, but not to fall in love" (Don Juan);
2. "Cyrano de Bergerac" (Captain Carbon);
3. "Romeo and Juliet" (Abram);
4. "The Queue" (Businessman);
5. "The Last Hero" (Victor);
6. "Richard III" (Lord Stanley) and others.

In 2016, Oleksandr Kobzar became part of the team of the Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Drama Theater. The actor's current repertoire includes the following works:

1. "The Ferryman" (Quinn Carney);
2. "The Cripple from Inishmaan" (Little Bobby Bennett);
3. "Translations" (Hugh);
4. "Treasure Island" (Silver);
5. "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" (Ed, Christopher's father);
6. "View from the Bridge" (Eddie).

Artist's style and development

Most of Oleksandr Kobzar's characters are negative. The actor himself admits: it is actually interesting and pleasant for him to receive such roles from directors. After all, according to the artist, it is negative, ambiguous characters that are the most difficult to play. Heroes-lovers and exemplary men are images that Oleksandr would not want to embody. The artist understood this while performing his first role in the theater (Don Juan in the play "To Tempt, but Not to Fall in Love"). At the same time, the actor notes that he has a principled character. And he likes to embody on stage and on the screen the images of people with a "double bottom" - to reveal their non-obvious, hidden features.

In addition to the theater stage, Oleksandr Kobzar also conquered the film industry. Fans of various genres could watch the actor play in the works:

• "Rage";
• "I will never forget you";
• "Love with a gun";
• "Solstice";
• "Double Life";
• "Guide";
• "Labyrinths of Fate";
• "Three days before love";
• "Crazy Wedding 1, 2";
• "Castle in the Sand" and others.

Talking about his experience working in theater and cinema, the actor notes that these are like two different worlds. And also two completely different distances from the audience. A role in the theater can be prepared for months and eventually embody the image in a two-hour performance. And during filming in the film, the actor concentrates on each individual scene. And so - from episode to episode. Oleksandr considers the theater a kind of simulator for an actor (like physical exertion in sports). The kobzar recalls how for five years there was no stage in his life. And this caused real discomfort.

Awards and honors:

The popularity, recognition, and contribution of Oleksandr Kobzar to the development of Ukrainian culture are evidenced by the following awards:

• "Kyiv Pectoral" in the nomination "Best Male Role" (Victor), "The Last Hero" (2008);
• "Kyiv Pectoral" in the nomination "Best Directorial Debut" for the play "Playing Chonkin" (jointly with Andriy Saminin, 2010).

So the artist has gone through a truly difficult and bright path from extras in theater and cinema to leading roles in high-profile premieres.