Ilja Bocharnikovs

Ilja Bocharnikovs, born in 1988, is a Russian-Latvian actor, theatre director, and university lecturer. He graduated as an actor from the at the academy of the Moscow Art Theatre (MKhAT), then joined the Stanislavsky Theatre, where he continues to teach acting. He later completed his studies in directing under the mentorship of Viktor Ryzhakov.

He has worked regularly in Hungary since 2017. Between 2022 and 2023, and again from 2025, he has served as Artistic Director of the Csokonai Theatre in Debrecen. Since 2023, he has also been Artistic Director of the Karinthy Theatre. That same year, he was appointed class leader at the University of Theatre and Film Arts in Budapest. His productions have been presented on numerous stages around the world. In Hungary he has directed more than fifteen performances.