Robert Kurbaša is one of the most recognisable Croatian actors, known for his powerful dramatic range and long-standing stage experience.
Born on 13 October 1977 in Split, he completed language high school and the Oratory School of the Croatian Philological Society before enrolling in the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb, graduating in acting in 2000.
Immediately after graduation, he became the youngest member of the Croatian National Theatre Split’s drama ensemble, where he performed from 2000 to 2008, taking on a wide array of significant roles. Today he works as a freelance artist and is a member of HDDU and HZSU.
Throughout his theatre career, he has portrayed numerous major roles, including: Oedipus (Seneca), Liliom (F. Molnar), Puba in The Glembays (M. Krleža), Krište in Kate Kapuralica (V. Stulli), Actor/Colonel in The Birds (H. Boychev), Gero in Empty City (D. Dukovski), Father Flynn in Doubt (P. Shanley), Ferdinand in The Tempest, Duncan in Macbeth (W. Shakespeare), and Marko in The Doll (M. Gavran).
Kurbaša frequently appears on television and film, taking on leading roles in productions such as:
– Tomislav Vojković (Urota, AVA Production)
– David (Don’t Give Up, Nina, Freemantle/RTL)
– Andrija (Valley of the Sun, Ring Multimedia/HRT)
– Nikola (Golden Fields, Nova TV)
He is the author of several audio releases featuring poetry recitations, as well as the monodrama Examination of Conscience, based on the prose of Tin Ujević, performed over a hundred times in Croatia and abroad. Following his authorial play Who Killed Zvonko Bušić?, he worked on the production The Sea, dedicated to the poet Josip Pupačić.
In the The Black Oath ( Vrata Iskupljenja) project, Kurbaša appears in the trailer as the interpreter of Mate Corazza, the parish priest of Vabriga, a man caught in profound moral dilemmas — torn between the charismatic priest Martin Vellovich and County Prefect Vuković, the representative of civil authority.
The trailer’s director and author of the novel The Black Oath (Vrata Iskupljenja), Katja Restović, says about his performance:
“I have never seen such acting talent on a set. His incredibly fast preparation and instant memorisation of the text amazed me, followed by an outstanding performance. Everything happened within 10 to 15 minutes, and we filmed everything in a single take. He is extremely pleasant to work with and completely focused on his character. I truly enjoyed working with him.”
