Michal Koleják is a Slovak actor from Trstena, Orava, born on 7 December 1992. He studied acting at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, where he studied under the guidance of prominent personalities of Slovak theatre – Emilia Vášáryová, Zuzana Kronerová and Juraj Nvota. Since 2016, he has been a stable member of the artistic ensemble of the Municipal Theatre Žilina, but his theatrical presence extends beyond the borders of this venue – he has been a guest artist at the Slovak National Theatre and collaborates with independent creative platforms such as Trieska v oku. On the stage of the Municipal Theatre, he has portrayed a number of distinctive characters that are often characterised by psychological depth and existential dimension. His best-known productions include Judas (monodrama), Status Quo, Lilith, Coco Chanel, I Hate You!, Manifesto, Tricks, Fet and Macaques, and Dusan Makovicky Hanged Himself in His Native House. His performance in the monodrama Judas became a highlight of his acting profile – he showed in it the capacity for intimate and powerful expression. In addition to the theatre, he also has experience in film and television. He has appeared in films such as Hostage (directed by Juraj Nvota), and in television series such as Behind Glass, Our Own and Ministers. He is known for his energetic, committed approach to acting and makes no secret of the fact that he sees the theatre as a space for free and authentic expression – of himself and the world. He describes himself and his theatre colleagues as “theatre punks” who are not afraid to go for the jugular and bring live, truthful theatre to the marketplace. Michal Koleják thus belongs to the younger generation of Slovak actors who bring intensity, determination and contemporary expression to the stage.
