Zhdanovich Florian graduated from drama school in Warsaw in 1902.
He organized drama groups in Minsk, Vilnius, Slutsk, where
such Belarusian performances as Kupala’s “Paylinka” , “According to Revision ”
by Krapivnizky were produced. He was the one of the organizers and the director
of the First Association of Belarusian Drama and comedy (1917-1920). In 1919
worked in Vilnius, where he directed a play “Scattered Nest” by Kupala. As a
director, he based his works on the experience of his predecessors (for example
I. Buinitski) and on the traditions of national Belarusian theatre. Zhdanovich
used folk music, songs in his plays. Also he inclined to the veracity and
truthfulness of life in his plays. He was a creative
director and the organizer of Belarusian drama theatre in Minsk (1920 – 1921).
In 1922 – 1929 Zhdanovich was a key actor there. He took the best performances
from the association (“The Lynx” and “The Boor” written by A. Azhezhka,
“Paylinka” and “Scattered Nest” by Kupala, “Mihalka” by Dalezkih, “Fashionable
Gentleman” by K. Kaganez, “The last Meeting” by U. Galubok et al.), produced
plays “Primaki”, “Sleep on the Barrow “and “The Eternal Song” by Kupala,
“Ganka” by Galubok. As an actor he revealed the psychological depth and
intelligence in dramatic roles, brightly acted comedies and was a character
actor. From 1926 was
persecuted. In 1930 he was arrested and sentenced to 3 years of prison, worked
on the White Sea Canal. From 1933 lived and worked abroad.