Suleyman Alasgarov

Suleyman Alaskarov was born on 20 June 1915 in Baku. After completing his seven-year education, he entered the Finance Technical College. He studied there for three years, and after receiving his diploma as an economist, he took the entrance exam for the Azerbaijan State Medical Institute, where he studied for another three years. He first took to the stage in 1933 in the drama club of the Sailors' House of Culture. Because of his devotion to the stage, he left his studies unfinished. In September 1936 Suleyman Alaskarov was hired as an actor at the Young Spectators' Theatre through a competitive selection. Suleyman Alaskarov appeared in very small episodic roles in several films produced by the "Azerbaijanfilm" studio. His most popular and significant screen role was that of the protagonist, Teacher Jabish, in the film "Our Teacher Jabish." For his services in the development of the Young Spectators' Theatre, the actor was awarded the honorary title of Honoured Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR on 27 February 1954, and People's Artist on 1 December 1982. He was a laureate of the Republic's Lenin Komsomol Prize for his role as Samad Vurgun in "The Komsomol Poem" (Iskandar Joshgun). Suleyman Alaskarov appeared on the stage of the Young Spectators' Theatre without interruption for sixty-three years. He created a colourful gallery of characters in dramas, comedies, tragedies, fairy tales and plays with folk-epic plots. Even at the age of eighty-three he appeared on stage lively, dynamic and fresh. He always observed the logic of the stage with great sensitivity. The core of his creative work was shaped largely by the aesthetic principles of the realist school of acting. His portrayal of heroic characters was distinguished by psychological drama, and his comic and satirical roles by their naturalness, colourful humour and aesthetic refinement.