Gogolfest Returns with La Fura dels Baus

This year Gogolfest will host a performance from the cutting edge Spanish theatre company

Getting together with one of the most spirited individuals I have ever met, this actor, MC, radio broadcaster, TV presenter and former diplomat was more than willing to find a few moments to chat. With a composure I have only ever seen from those who walk the big screen, he tells me about his own red carpet experiences in an almost perfect English. He is educated, he is also down to earth, and perhaps because of this demeanour, his past endeavours certainly ensure a very promising future. He is Andriy Djedjula.
“I have been on the air for 16 years and TV for ten,” he tells me as soon as we sit down. And while that is very impressive for a man who looks so young, his real ambition as he was growing up was to become an actor.

Ready, Camera...

“I went to school for acting and spent three really good years on the stage. At one time, it was all could think about, and while there are other things that fill my time these days, I don’t think that I could ever really quit it,” he says telling me about this, his biggest childhood dream. There was another position that kept this guy pretty busy at one time as well and working with the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he served time as a diplomat. “I put in some considerable time with the Ministry, working mainly on human rights. I received a posting in Serbia, however, and while I did put a lot of effort into studying the language, eventually I realised that this career just wasn’t for me.”

In the stead of politics and diplomacy, and his acting career laying a fabulous foundation, Andriy Djedjula has found that he’s got an especially good knack when it comes to speaking into a microphone and with so much experience on the radio and in television, this is one guy everybody recognises these days. “I have worked for many channels: OTV, NTN, Channel 5... What we’re doing on 1+1 right now with our Breakfast Show is a lot of fun. The format is a little different, and because we incorporate a sort of British style/humour to the show I think this really adds to the programming on television these days,” he says smiling. “Besides,” he adds, “our ratings are fabulous!” 

His radio show on Kiss FM is just as popular, and so if you don’t get enough of this guy in the morning you can tune into him later in the day to get some pretty elucidative information on their favourite topic – sex! “This is not a new programme to Ukraine. We’ve been on the air now for almost nine and a half years. But it’s popular because we talk about one of the most important things in people’s lives – relationships.”

Action!

Believe it or not, there is yet another title that resides on Andriy Djedjula’s resume and that is  MC. “As you can see,” he says laughing, “I have no time for myself! I created an events company a few years ago and so I really do work around the clock. But because we work with a number of different kinds of people – politicians, those in entertainment, etc – it never gets boring.” 

He must be pretty good at it, however, because in 2003 he entered an MC competition winning everything. “I have to admit,” he says blushing ever so slightly, “I was pretty proud myself. I took home all of the prizes that night and came out on top!” His clients have also given him some pretty nice stuff and recalling one of the more memorable gifts he says, “Once, I even received a shiny new gold watch! But to be honest, the best gift for me is that my clients are satisfied.”

With all of this going on, finding time for a private life must get a little hectic at times, to which he whole-heartedly agrees: “My life is jam-packed, and while I don’t have a lot of time for myself, I do make it a point to steal a few moments here and there in order to keep my body and soul functioning properly. A lot of that extra time gets devoted to my son; he is my most prized possession.”

And yet, with all of this lack of free time, that childhood dream of his to someday see himself in bright lights still remains: “Whatever I have done in the past and whatever I am doing now, is only preparing for the future. I will be an actor; it is one dream that must come true.”   

Cosmos Okigbo Ojukwu