Georges Pitoëff

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Georges Pitoëff (Russian: Георгий Питоев; 4 September 1884 – 17 September 1939) was a Russian émigré with an Armenian background who became one of the leading actors and directors in France.

Early life and education

Pitoëff was born on 4 September 1884 in Tiflis, Russia (now Tbilisi, Georgia) to Russian-born of Armenian origins, he was the son of the Director of the Tiflis Theatre. After studying and graduating in law at Paris University, he switched his focus to a career in the theatre.

Career

In Russia, Pitoëff trained with Konstantin Stanislavski.{{Cite book|last=Shafer|first=David A.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/954427932|title=Antonin Artaud|date=2016|isbn=978-1-78023-601-8|location=London, UK|oclc=954427932}}^:45 In France he became a theatre director and producer, noted for his popularization of the works of contemporary playwrights, especially George Bernard Shaw, Anton Chekhov, Arthur Schnitzler, Henrik Ibsen, and Eugene O'Neill. He was a founding member of the Cartel des Quatre (Group of Four), a group including Louis Jouvet, Charles Dullin, and Gaston Baty, dedicated to rejuvenating the French theatre.{{cite book|last1=Jomaron|first1=Jacqueline|title=Georges Pitoëff Metteur En Scène|date=1979|publisher=L'age D'homme|location=Lausanne, Switzerland}}