Valerian Gunia

Tiflis until being expelled for participation in student protests in 1881. He then studied at the Petrovsko-Razumovsky Agricultural Academy in Moscow. In 1882 he joined the Georgian Dramatical Troupe in Tiflis. As an actor, he played leading roles in major European plays. He also trained many talented actors, and organized seasonal and travelling companies. He was a strong proponent of realistic theatre and his plays found notable place in the repertory of the Georgian theatre. He also translated several plays by the Russian and Western European authors and wrote a history of the Georgian theatre.^[1] Beginning in 1913, Gunia also appeared in several Georgian films.^[2] He died in Tbilisi and was interred at the Didube Pantheon