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Eduard Vojan

photo: (Michal Maňas)

The greatest Czech actor at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, an excellent representative of the so-called realistic psychological-analytical method, based on deeply physiologically experiencing the interpreted character.

(1853–1920)

He was born in Prague on 5th may 1853 into the family of a clerk. His father wanted his son to become an officer of the Austrian army, but Eduard Vojan dreamt of acting from a young age. Consequently he joined the Thalia Company as an amateur, which resulted in a rift between father and son. He left home and subsequently spent many years performing with various country theatre companies.

In 1888 he acquired an engagement at the National Theatre in Prague, fulfilling his life-long dream. Throughout his employment with the National Theatre Eduard Vojan played up to 309 characters in 28 theatre plays, most of which were the main protagonists, including Jan Hus, 1911, Jan Roháč, 1918 (A. Jirásek), Cyrano de Bergerac (E. Rostand, 1904), Mephisto (J. W. Goethe, Faust, 1906 and 1910). He died on 31st May 1920 in Prague. More information is available here .