Director Mihallaq Luarasi passed away on 30 October 2017 at the age of 88.

He was born in Korçë on 16 September 1929. He attended the “Jordan Misja” Artistic High School in Tirana and studied at the Academy of Theatre and Film Arts in Budapest, Hungary.

Luarasi formed a legendary directing trio with Kujtim Spahivogli and Pirro Mani. Together, they shaped Albanian theatre between 1957 and 1973.

His first major success came with Schiller’s tragedy Intrigue and Love (1957), performed over 300 times at the National Theatre in seven years. His last play before facing persecution under the communist regime was Njollat e murrme. Luarasi lost eight years of artistic freedom due to political oppression.

He returned to the stage after the regime’s fall in the 1990s, continuing to influence Albanian theatre with his vision and dedication.

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