The artistic career of Ivan Vyrypaev began in 1995 upon his graduation from the Irkutsk Theater School. Since those early days in Siberia, his professional footprint has expanded across international stages and screens, spanning roles as a playwright, film director, and actor who has worked within the New Drama movement and established institutions throughout Europe and the United States.
Early Career and Education
Born in Irkutsk in 1974, Vyrypaev trained at the Irkutsk drama school before moving to the Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute, graduating in 1998. His formative years included acting roles at the Magadan Theater and the Drama and Comedy Theatre of Petropavlovsk-Kamtchatsky. By 1998, he founded the theater-studio Space of the Game in Irkutsk and later taught acting skills at his alma mater between 1999 and 2001.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Theatrical and Cinematic Output
Vyrypaev gained prominence as a leading figure in the New Drama movement. His plays have been performed in over 250 theaters worldwide, translated into more than 30 languages. As a filmmaker, his 2006 work Euphoria competed at the Venice Film Festival, where it secured the youth jury's Small Golden Lion. His directorial repertoire includes films such as Oxygen, Delhi Dance, and the 2021 production Research Study: New Constructive Ethics.
Institutional Roles and Artistic Foundations
Between 2006 and 2016, he held various leadership positions at the Praktika Theatre in Moscow, serving as both artistic producer and artistic director. In 2020, he acted as general producer for the Okko Theater project. Beyond commercial theater, he established the Teal House foundation in Warsaw, which integrates physical, intellectual, and spiritual levels into its creative and educational programming.
Relocation and Political Stance
Vyrypaev moved to Poland in 2014, eventually renouncing his Russian citizenship to become a Polish citizen in May 2022. Following his vocal opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he faced legal consequences in Russia. In May 2023, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow sentenced him in absentia to eight years in prison for allegedly spreading false information regarding the Russian army.
Fast facts
- Born: 1974, Irkutsk
- Citizenship: Poland (formerly Russia)
- Education: Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute (1998)
- Notable Film: Euphoria (2006)
- Notable Plays: Dreams, Oxygen, Illusions
- Spouse: Karolina Gruszka
- Recognition: Honorary doctorate, University of the Peloponnese (2026)
Questions readers ask
Where does Ivan Vyrypaev live currently?
He has lived and worked permanently in Poland since 2014.
What is the status of his criminal case in Russia?
In May 2023, a Moscow court sentenced him in absentia to eight years in prison for spreading information deemed false about the Russian army.
Achievements
- Worked as actor, screenwriter and playwright
