Georgian and Soviet theater and film director (1872–1933), considered the founder of modern Georgian theatre. A restless innovator shaped by Stanislavsky and Craig at the Moscow Art Theatre, he broke away in 1913 to found the eclectic "Free Theater" before returning to Georgia in 1922 to lead the Rustaveli Theater. In 1926 he split off to build a new touring company that would become the theater bearing his name. Alongside his stage work he directed films between 1916 and 1928, including Amok (1927) and The Gadfly (1928). Honored as People's Artist of the Georgian SSR in 1931.