Pirro Mani (1932-2021)
One of the most prominent personalities in the history of Albanian theater. Actor / Director and teacher. Holds the title “People’s Artist”
Born on April 14, 1932, in Korça. He is better known by the Albanian public as one of the most brilliant theater directors. Mani is an outstanding figure in the history of theater and cinematography. Prominent director and teacher who has been working for 25 years at the Popular Theater.
As a child, he dreamed of becoming an athlete, but he was also attracted to the stage, the circus and music. Completed his studies at the Artistic High School “Jordan Misja” in Tirana in 1954. His fate was determined when he was given the right to pursue higher studies at the Higher Institute of Cinematography at GITIS, in Moscow.
It was the time when the directors graduated from Eastern European schools were developing their artistic personality. They were Mihallaq Luarasi, Kujtim Spahivogli, Esat Oktrova and also Piro Mani. There he stood out for his rare talent, especially in the part “View from the bridge”.
In 1961 Mani returned to Albania and was appointed director at the “Andon Zako Çajupi” theater in Korca, where he directed it for 8 years. Pirro Mani was “kissed by fate on the forehead”, because in the laboratories of the Korçar theater there were first-class actors under his directorial orders, such as Pandi Raidhi, the spouses Dhorka and Dhimitër Orgocka, Thimi Filipin, Stavri Shkurti and others.
Together, they created works of lasting value that left an impression on the memory of art lovers, such as V. Kokona’s “Shadows of the Night”, or that demonstrated outstanding directorial and acting art. After a successful career start, he was appointed director and actor at the “Popular Theater”.
The first work he prepared for the public in the capital was “Cuca e maleve” by Loni Papa. An excellent director and teacher, he worked at the National Theater for 25 years.
From 1967 to 1992, he was the director of the National Theater, where he staged dozens of plays. He was even the director of this institution for a period of time (1988-1991). He has also trained many students to become actors and directors as a teacher of Master of Acting and Directing at the High Institute of Arts.
In the years 1974-1978, Mani performed the duties of the head of the director’s chair in this Institute as a lecturer. There have been many of his performances in the National Theater, about 80 of them, also in the Estrada of Tirana, in the Theater of Opera and Ballet, staging some well-known operas from the world and Albanian musical repertoire.
Piro Mani gave a great help in the affirmation of Albanian drama, which remains a special merit of his. Among his theatrical performances in his artistic career, we can mention: “View from the bridge” (1961) by A. Miller; “The Death of Blanka Postnet” (1962) by Bernard Shout; “Keneta” (1964) based on the novel by F. Gjata; “Shadows of the night” (1965) by V. Kokones; “The White Circle” (1966) by Naum Prifti.
During the 60s – 80s, he was the most outstanding individuality of our director, standing out for his sharp intuition and fertile imagination, his style that culminated further in the National Theater in the years 1967-1990.
Thus, we can continue with other plays of the satirical-dramatic or tragic-heroic type, such as: “Fytyra e dyte” (1968) by D. Agolli; “Irreplaceable” (1974) by Q. Buxheli; “The Great Flood” (1976) by Kole Jakove; “Monserrat” (1983) by Robles; “Prometheus” (1984) by Viktor Eftimiu;
The property of the director Piro Mani was also the tendency to build contrasts and strong contrasts with specific actions and directions that ended up in a metaphor such as “Vajza pa prike” 1966 by N. Ostrovsky at the AZ Cajupi theater and at ILA in 1971.
Stands out in the free treatment of Shakespeare’s comedy “Twelfth Night” in v. 1963 in the theater of Korce and later in 1987 in the National Theater.
His directorial creativity has also been noticed in the nervous and passionate treatment of pieces with a political emphasis of the time such as “Cuca e maleve” (1972) by Loni Pape; “Mark me too” (1974) by H. Minarolli; “Communists” (1981); “Furrnalta” (1976) by R. Pulaha.
We should not forget plays like “Arturo Ui” (1971) by B. Brecht as one of the highlights of Pirro Mani’s theater, as and “Biderman and the Arsonist” (1976) by M. Fisher; “The General of the Dead Army” (1972) dramatization of the novel by I. Kadare; “Who brought Doruntinen” (1978) ecc.
The first role in the film will be that of Stavri Lara in “First years” (1965), then he will play a character that will identify him in later years, precisely the role of Sali Protopapa in “Bronze Bust” (1970).
He will have his last performance as an actor in 1994 in Loin des barbares (Lion Kodra).
It has been honored with many awards.
He is a master of directing massive scenes, a deep connoisseur of mise-en-scène. He won many awards and was honored with the high title “People’s Artist”.
In 1999 he became “Honorary Citizen of Korce”. For several years, he has been living in New York, USA, together with his wife, the well-known actress Pavlina Mani, and her family.
Piro Mani passed away on June 3, 2021. 
Published since 2013 and revised in the following years.
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Albanian Cinematography in activity since 2013
Reference: 60 years of the National Theater (1945-2005) slatina p. / page 77 “Albanian Encyclopedia, Theater and Cinematography” – toena 2009 / papagjoni j. / p. 285-286 /
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