Gurban Masimov

Gurban Masimov (Gurban Masimli) was born in Sheki.

He studied at the Directing Faculty of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Art (1988-1993), the Vocal Department of the Baku Academy of Music (1995-2001), and the Robert Sturuan International Mastery Course (1998, Georgia). He participated in the “Fildenkrais Method” seminar as part of the “Summer Academy” program in Sofia (2000, Bulgaria).

Since 1994, he has worked at the “Crazy Gathering” Pantomime Theater-Studio led by Bakhtiyar Khanizade. In 2000, the theater received state status and became the State Pantomime Theater. He was the host of the programs “Nem-Nem” (2000-2002) broadcast on ABA television, “Show-Nem-Nem” (2003) on Lider television, and “Gülmeşeker” on Azerbaijan television. He also has creative experience in the clown genre. His stage name is “Clown Appa”.

He has starred in the films of foreign film producers “Count Krestovsky” (2004, directed by Ramiz Fataliyev, in the role of Krestovsky’s agent / Russia), “Dreams” (2005, directed by Rehbar Ganbari, in the role of Araz / Iran), “Lost Share” (2007, directed by Hasan Najafi, in the role of Ruhiddin / Iran) and “The Eighth Heaven” (2011, directed by Hasan Najafi, in the role of Gurban / Iran).

Since 2013, he has been the chief director of the Azerbaijan State Puppet Theater.

Since 2018, he has been a teacher at the Musical Theater Acting Department of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Art.

“Humay” Prize winner (2019), Honored Artist (2019).