Godziashvili Vaso

Vasil (Vaso) Godziashvili (b. November 27, 1905, Tbilisi – d. January 30, 1976, Tbilisi) was an actor, People's Artist of the USSR (1958), winner of the USSR State Prize (1952) and the Shota Rustaveli State Prize (1971). In 1922–1924, he studied at the Tbilisi Drama Studio. In 1924–1930, he was an actor of the Rustaveli Theatre in Tbilisi, and from 1930 until his death – the Marjanishvili Theatre. Godziashvili was distinguished by true artistry, acting individuality, professional skill, scenic charm, and musicality. The best traditions of the Georgian theatre were reflected in his work. Godziashvili successfully portrayed dramatic, comic and grotesque roles. The image of Luarsab Tatkaridze (Katsia Adamiani?!  by I. Chavchavadze) created by him went down in the history of the Georgian theatre as one of the brilliant achievements of the Georgian acting school. His other notable roles include: Akhma (S. Shanshiashvili's Anzor), Cheshmakov (Z. Antonov's Eclipse of the Sun in Georgia), Avetika (A. Tsagareli's You Can't See What You Have Already Seen), Ruy Blas (V. Hugo's Ruy Blas), Arbenin (M. Lermontov's Masquerade), Khlestakov (N. Gogol's The Government Inspector), King Erekle (L. Gotua's King Erekle), Richard III (Shakespeare's Richard III), Caesar (B. Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra), Philip (F. Schiller's Don Carlos), and others. In his own production of Old Vaudeville (A. Tsereteli's Butiaoba, A. Tsagareli's Oinbazi, Bakhutashvili's In the Court), Godziashvili brilliantly played the roles of Tigran Opopiantsi, Arshaka and the host of the play — an old actor. Godziashvili made a great contribution to the development of Georgian stage art. He successfully worked in cinema. He played the roles of Siko (Keto and Kote, 1948), Avetika (You Can't See What You Have Already Seen, 1965) and others. He received state awards. He is buried in the Didube Pantheon of Georgian Writers and Public Figures.

Literature: გ უ გ უ შ ვ ი ლ ი ე., ვასო გოძიაშვილი, თბ., 1972; ც ი ც ი შ ვ ი ლ ი გ., ვასო გოძიაშვილი, თბ., 1964; Г у г у ш в и л и Э., Театральные портреты, Тб., 1968.

L. Tsagareishvili