Sergey Obraztsov
Encyclopedia
Sergey Vladimirovich Obraztsov was a Soviet and Russia
n puppeteer who is credited by the Encyclopædia Britannica
with "establishing puppetry
as an art form in the Soviet Union." Rod theaters in many countries of the world owe their establishment to Obraztsov's influence. His collection of exotic puppets was the largest in Russia
and one of the largest in the world.
Obraztsov was born on June 22, 1901 in Moscow
into the family of a high-profile railroad engineer. Between 1922 and 1931, he worked as an actor with Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko
in one of the studios of the Moscow Art Theatre
. During this period, he staged several vaudeville
-style puppet shows before going on to set up the State Central Puppet Theatre in Moscow
in 1931.
His theatre toured more than 350 cities in the USSR and 90 cities in foreign countries. During his numerous tours abroad, Obraztsov helped to popularize artistic puppetry in the United States
, Britain, and other countries. One of his best known shows, An Unusual Concert
(1946), satirized bad performers. Besides more than 70 plays for children and grown-ups that he staged in his theatre, Obraztsov also directed the first short-length puppet film under the title Looking at a Polar Sunset Ray in 1938, and also a number of documentaries. In his later years, Obraztsov became enthusiastic about finger puppets. He was also skilled in puppeteering with his bare hands.
Sergey Obraztsov was the President of the International Union of Puppeteers (1976–1984, and from 1984 the President Emeritus), a teaching professor in GITIS (from 1973), and a member of the Writers’ Union of the USSR.
Obraztsov authored an autobiography and a monograph on Chinese puppet theatre. He was awarded the USSR State Prize
in 1946, named People's Artist of the USSR
in 1952, and a Hero of Socialist Labour in 1971. Obraztsov died on May 8, 1992 and was buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery
.
The Obraztsov Foundation, established in 1998 by his family members and the Obraztsov Puppet Theatre, was aimed at preserving his rich creative legacy.
In September 2001, the Sergey Obraztsov Theatre hosted a week-long centennial celebration which included an international array of performers.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n puppeteer who is credited by the Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
with "establishing puppetry
Puppetry
Puppetry is a form of theatre or performance which involves the manipulation of puppets. It is very ancient, and is believed to have originated 30,000 years BC. Puppetry takes many forms but they all share the process of animating inanimate performing objects...
as an art form in the Soviet Union." Rod theaters in many countries of the world owe their establishment to Obraztsov's influence. His collection of exotic puppets was the largest in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and one of the largest in the world.
Obraztsov was born on June 22, 1901 in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
into the family of a high-profile railroad engineer. Between 1922 and 1931, he worked as an actor with Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko
Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko
Vladimir Ivanovich Nemirovich-Danchenko was a Georgian-born Russian theatre director, writer, pedagogue, playwright, producer and theatre organizer, who founded the Moscow Art Theatre with his colleague, Konstantin Stanislavsky, in 1898.-Biography:Vladimir Ivanovich Nemirovich-Danchenko was born...
in one of the studios of the Moscow Art Theatre
Moscow Art Theatre
The Moscow Art Theatre is a theatre company in Moscow that the seminal Russian theatre practitioner Constantin Stanislavski, together with the playwright and director Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, founded in 1898. It was conceived as a venue for naturalistic theatre, in contrast to the melodramas...
. During this period, he staged several vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
-style puppet shows before going on to set up the State Central Puppet Theatre in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1931.
His theatre toured more than 350 cities in the USSR and 90 cities in foreign countries. During his numerous tours abroad, Obraztsov helped to popularize artistic puppetry in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Britain, and other countries. One of his best known shows, An Unusual Concert
An Unusual Concert
An Unusual Concert isone of Sergey Obraztsov's best known puppet shows. It is considered a masterpiece of puppeteering and satirizes bad performers...
(1946), satirized bad performers. Besides more than 70 plays for children and grown-ups that he staged in his theatre, Obraztsov also directed the first short-length puppet film under the title Looking at a Polar Sunset Ray in 1938, and also a number of documentaries. In his later years, Obraztsov became enthusiastic about finger puppets. He was also skilled in puppeteering with his bare hands.
Sergey Obraztsov was the President of the International Union of Puppeteers (1976–1984, and from 1984 the President Emeritus), a teaching professor in GITIS (from 1973), and a member of the Writers’ Union of the USSR.
Obraztsov authored an autobiography and a monograph on Chinese puppet theatre. He was awarded the USSR State Prize
USSR State Prize
The USSR State Prize was the Soviet Union's state honour. It was established on September 9, 1966. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the prize was followed up by the State Prize of the Russian Federation....
in 1946, named People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR, also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to citizens of the Soviet Union.- Nomenclature and significance :...
in 1952, and a Hero of Socialist Labour in 1971. Obraztsov died on May 8, 1992 and was buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery
Novodevichy Cemetery
Novodevichy Cemetery is the most famous cemetery in Moscow, Russia. It is next to the 16th-century Novodevichy Convent, which is the city's third most popular tourist site. It should not be confused with the Novodevichy Cemetery in Saint Petersburg....
.
The Obraztsov Foundation, established in 1998 by his family members and the Obraztsov Puppet Theatre, was aimed at preserving his rich creative legacy.
In September 2001, the Sergey Obraztsov Theatre hosted a week-long centennial celebration which included an international array of performers.