Fatos Haxhiraj, a director, actor, and Merited Artist, was born in Tirana. After completing his higher education, he was appointed as an actor at the People’s Theater in 1968. As an actor, he successfully played several character roles. His sense of humor and sharpness in observing unique traits and behaviors in people became guiding principles for him to further seek the appropriate psychophysical elements that corresponded to the model of the “character actor,” which also contributed to his success in that role. His tendencies toward directing were noticed early on, but they particularly emerged after several close collaborations with director Pirro Mani. On October 1, 1981, he was appointed director of the People’s Theater. In his directorial concept, he placed significant emphasis on critiquing the alienating mechanism of the market, the psychological exhaustion it caused, and the destruction of illusions in the face of the harsh truth of life. Generally, Fatos Haxhiraj’s directing is noted for breaking and intertwining plans; transitions naturally from the dramatic and tragic to the comic and farcical.
(In the photograph: Fatos Haxhiraj)
Text: Josif Papagjoni
Photography: © https://www.shqipet.al/fatos-haxhiraj-feston-81-vjetorin/
Graphic processing: AHCF
