We have many good theatres and many interesting and capable stage designers. How should the most typical, the most remarkable be chosen - that is a question which any important exhibitions poses.
In recent years Soviet stage design has been developing in the context of ideas which, by the early seventies, had already fully asserted themselves. The concept of the stage as a medium in the visual arts has continued to be developed. Attempts have appeared to represent the time and space of the action on stage in a supremely objective and natural manner. Our exposition
tends to place the artist above any such objectives. A comparatively small number of stage designers have been selected to present their work. They differ in age and represent varied national schools and different theatres, some of which represent the theatre as an art.
We have before us masterly, innovative stylizations, as well as programmed rationalism, conscious intentions to highlight the dramatic conflict in the spatial dimension, as well as deliberate limitations imposed by the artist upon himself by aiming at a highly authentic presentation of the temporal and spatial aspects of the action and the ability to make scenic space really dramatic. Thus we see on the one hand extreme clarity in concept, combined with an intuitive approach and intriguing uninterpretability on the other. The striving for improvisation is accompanied by highly refined and architecturally tried forms. The desire to produce an affect by the use of authentic materials and textiles is accompanied by playing a theatre which is 'unreal " and "make believe ". Behind all this one senses not only the existence of varied stages of development and different attitudes towards the theatre, but also varied and imaginative approaches to aspects of life and art.
The exhibition of our puppet theatres is well supplemented by stage designs from our designers in theatres for children. The latter is one of the most important sections of our theatre. We do not wish in this context to accent the specific aspects of a stage designer’s mission in this particular area. Let it suffice to note that successful attempts to capture the attention of young audiences typically stress colour, visual experience and fun which cause the child to open its eyes to the beauty, magic and joy of the world.
- Sergej Barchin (Sergei Barkhin)
* 31.03.1938, Moscow
Specialization: set designer
Education: Moscow Architectural Institute, 1962
Collaboration with theatres: In Moscow: Bolshoi Theatre, Chekhov MXT Theatre, Stanislavsky Musical Theatre, Yuong Spectator's Theatre etc.
Teaching activities: Founder of the Stage Design Department of the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (RATI-GITIS) - 1993., Professor
Continuing collaboration with directors: O. Efremov, K. Ginkas, O. Tabakov, G. Yanovskaya, V. Vasiliev
Additional information: Head of Design of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Head of Design Department in the Russian Theatre Academy (former GITIS), Moscow. He participated in PQ 1971, 1975, 1979 and 1987 (Gold Medal to the Exhibition of the USSR). Winner of the OISTAT Architectural Competition.
- David Borovskij (David Borovsky)
* 02.07.1934, Odessa, Ukraine
Education: At the age of 14 Borovsky began working as a decorator in professional theatres in Kiev
Collaboration with theatres: Kiev: Lesya Ukrainka Theatre, Ivan Franko Theatre; Moscow: Stanislavsky Drama Theatre, Taganka Theatre, Bolshoi Theatre
Continuing collaboration with directors: L. Varpakhovsky, B. Lvov-Anokhin, Y. Lyubimov, L. Dodin, I. Horvai, О. Efremov
Additional information: Born in 1934 in Kijev. Since 1984 he has been a chief stage designer at the Sovremennik Theatre in Moscow. He exhibited in the PQ in 1967, 1971, 1975 (in the exposition awarded by the Golden Triga — the main prize) and in 1979. In 1972 at the Triennial of Stage and Costume Design in Novi Sad he received a Gold Medal for stage design.
Began to work at professional theatre at the age of fifteen, his first sets being designed for a production at the Lesya Ukrainka Russian Drama Theatre in 1956. Borovsky's talent was especially fully realized in collaboration with director Yuri Lyubimov at the Taganka Theatre, at which he has been designer-in-chief for over t h i r ty years. He also worked with such directors as Anatoli Efros, Oleg Yefremov, Valery Fokin, Galina Voychek, Leonid Heifitz, Roman Viktyuk and Andrei Smirnov. He has worked with major drama and opera companies in Russia, Europe and America. His designs are held in the collection of the Bakhrushin Central Theatre Museum. He received the Gold Medal at the PQ'71. at the PQ'75 exhibited in the Soviet exhibition which was awarded the Golden Triga.
- Sofia Junovič
Additional information: Born in 1910, an Artist of Merit of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic; a stage designer. She graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Leningrad. She works for drama and musical theatres in Moscow and Leningrad.
Among her best known designs are the productions of A Moon for the Misbegotten and Three Sisters at the Grand Academie Theatre in Leningrad and the ballet Hamlet at the Kirov State Academie Opera and Ballet Theatre. She participated in the Prague Quadrennials in 1967 and 1971.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Eduard Kočergin
Additional information: Born in 1937. Artist of Merit of FSRSR. Since 1972 he has been a chief stage designer at the M. Gorky Grand Academic Drama Theatre in Leningrad. He is a chief of Stage Design Studio of the I. J. Repin Institute of Painting, Architecture and Sculpture in Leningrad. He exhibited in the PQ in 1967, 1971, 1975 (in the exposition awarded by the Golden Triga — the main prize) and in 1979. In 1978 at the Triennial of Stage and Costume Design in Novi Sad he received a Gold Medal for stage design.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Valerij Levental
Additional information: Born in 1938. National Artist of FSRSR. He has been a stage designer
at the State Academic Grand Theatre in Moscow. He is a chief of the
Stage Design department at the MKHAT School-Studio. He exhibited in
the PQ 1967, 1971, 1975 (in the exposition awarded by the Golden Triga —
the main prize) and in 1979.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Vladimír Serebrovskij
Additional information: Born in 1937. He has been working as a chief stage designer of the
Tadzhik Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Dushanbe. He cooperates with
a number of drama and music theatres. He participated in the PQ 1967
and in 1979.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Mart KITAJEV
Additional information: Born in 1925. National Artist of FSRSR. Since 1974 he has been a chief
stage designer at the A. S. Pushkin State Academic Drama Theatre in
Leningrad. He participated in the PQ in 1975 and in 1979.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Vladimir MAKUŠENKO
Additional information: Born in 1936; a stage and industrial designer. He graduated from the Memory of 1905 Art School in Moscow. He collaborates with a number of musical end drama theatres throughout the Soviet Union. Together with Olga Tvardovskaya he received in 1975 at the International Stage Design Exhibition in Novi Sad a Gold Medal for the costume designs for the production of Thyl Ulenspiegel at the Leninist Komsomol Theatre in Moscow. He participated in the Prague Quadrennial in 1975.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Vitalius MAZURAS (Vitalis MAZURAS)
Additional information: Born in 1934; a stage director and designer. He graduated from
the Vilnius Art School. He is now the chief stage designer and
superintendent of the Vilnius Puppet Theatre. He designs sets
both for drama and puppet theatres in Lithuenia. Among his most
important designs are those for productions of Egle - The Snake
Queen by S. Neris /at the Puppet Theatre in Kaunas in 1968, directed
by S. Ratkiyavichus/, The Ash Duckling by V. Palchins -
kaite /at the Puppet Theatre in Vilnius in 1971, directed by
V. Mazuras/ and A Fairy Boy's Tale by S. Geda /at the Puppet
Theatre in Vilnius, 1974, directed by V. Mazuras/.
- Olga TVARDOVSKAJA
Additional information: Born in 1941; a stage designer. She studied at the V. Surikov
Institute of Fine Arts in Moscow. She works together with V.Makushenko
for musical and drama theatres. Together with him she
received in 1975 a Gold Medal at the International Stage Design
Exhibition in Novi Sad for costumes for the play Thyl Ulen -
spiegel at the Leninist Komsomol Theatre in Moscow. She participated
in the Prague Quadrennial in 1975.
- Ella ADAMOVA
Additional information: Born in 1950. She graduated from the State Theatrical Institute /GITIS/, where she specialized in puppet design. At present she works as a puppet designer for various puppet theatres throughout the Soviet Union. She has designed the puppets for productions of Cat in a Case at the Puppet Theatre in Belogorodsk in 1975, directed by N. Gomutov; for A Tale for Yemelya at the same theatre in 1975, directed by N. Danilova and for Losharik at the Regional Puppet Theatre in Orel in 1977, directed by L. Gavrilova.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Veniamin AKUDIN
Additional information: Born in 1931. He is the chief stage designer of the Uzbekistan Puppet Theatre. Among his best work in this theatre are designs for productions of Hasan Seeks Happiness /directed by I. Yakubov/, for Simurg /directed by I. Yakubov/, for Aldar-Kose /directed by I. Yakubov and Y. Friedman/ and for Farkhad and Shirin /directed by I. Yakubov/.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Vladimir AREFEV
Additional information: Born in 1949. He is active as a painter and stage designer in the
Ukranian Socialist Republic. He has designed the stage sets for
many various productions of opera and ballet.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Alina Fomina
* 1942, Smolensk region
Specialization: set designer, costume designer
Additional information: Set and costume designer of State Puppets Theatre of the Republic of Belarussia, teaches at
the Belarussian Art Academy. She participated in PQ 1979.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Larisa GERLOVAN
Additional information: Born in 1940, she graduated from the Belorussian Institute of Art and Drama. She works as a designer at the Minsk Puppet Theatre and sometimes dso designs stage sets for drama theatres in Minsk. Among her best work for the puppet theatre are The Curious Little Elephant /directed by V.Kozlova/ and The Bells of Your Fate /directed by V. Kozlova/ both produced at the Puppet Theatre in Minsk.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Vladimír CHOVRALEV
- Irina KOSTRINA
Additional information: Born in 1938, she graduated from the M. Gorki School of Art. She
has been working in the M. Gorki Puppet Theatre for many years.
Among her best work are designs for productions of The Frog Princess,What the Magicians Told Us, The Adventures of the
Hunter Dumay and A Tale About the Dead Princess and Seven Heros.
All these plays were produced at the M. Gorki Puppet Theatre
and directed by A. Mishin.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Latife KULI-ZADE
Additional information: Born in 1946, she graduated from the Azerbaydzhan Art School. She now works as a puppet designer for the Azerbaydzhan Puppet Theatre. Among her most interesting designs are those for a production of The Beautiful Vasilisa /directed by E. Velyev/ end Where Are You Going Little Horse ? /directed by T. Mageramova/.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Dalia-Lidija MATEITENE
Additional information: Born in 1936. She graduated from the Institute of Fine Arts in Vilnius. She works for various theatres throughout Lithuania.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Teimuraz NINUA
Additional information: Born in 1948. He has been working as a chief stage designer at the Theatre of Young Audiences in Tbilisi. He exhibited in the PQ in 1979; he received the Gold Medal for costumes.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Alexandr OPARIN
Additional information: Born in 1943. He graduated from the V. Surikov Institute of Fine Arts in Moscow. He designs sets for various Soviet theatres.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Aramais SARGSJAN
Additional information: Born in 1930. In 1956 he graduated from the Yerevan Institute of Art and Drama. He is now the chief stage designer of the Puppet Theatre in Yerevan. He also collaborates in the production of puppet films. Among his best work are designs for Mashenka and the Bear by S. Marshak in 1967, directed by R. Kamoyan, for King Chah-Chah by O. Tumanyan in 1967 directed by V. Gudoyan, for Willie Winkie by H. C. Andersen in 1968, directed by M. Aslanyan, for Three Oranges by C. Gozzi in 1973, directed by R. Marukyan and for Dearer Than Gold end Pearls by H.C. Andersen in 1974 , directed by M. Aslanyan. All these productions were at the Puppet Theatre in Yerevan.
Obrázky z katalogu
- A.V. ŠEGLOV (Alexej ŠEGLOV)
Additional information: Born in 1908. In 1930 he graduated from Art School .in Kharkov , where he specialized in graphics. He is now the chief stage designer of the N. Krupskaya Puppet Theatre in Kharkov. At the same time he collaborates with a number of drama and puppet theatres in the Ukranian Soviet Socialist Republic. He is also active as a graphic artist. Among his best work are designs for productions of The Devil´s Mill by I. Shtoka in 1955 /directed by V. Afanaseyev/, of Ali Baba and the Thieves by V. Maslov in 1971 /directed by V. Afanasyev/, of Sherlock Holmes Against 007 or Where It All Began by V. Levin and A. Zhitnitski in 1977 /directed by V. Afanasyev/. All these productions are from the Puppet Theatre in Kharkov.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Miriam ŠVELIDZE
Additional information: Born in 1947. She graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in
Tbilisi in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic. She now
works as a stage designer at the Shota Rustaveli Drama Theatre.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Paul SCHENHOFF
Additional information: Born in 1924. In 1950 he graduated from the Latvian Academy of Arts. He is now the chief stage designer, as well as e stage director of the Latvian Puppet Theatre. He has designed puppets and stage sets for a total of over 170 puppet productions.Among his best known are designs for Tip end Tap /directed by T.Herzberg/, for Lauplesis /directed by T. Herzberg/, for White and Black /directed by P. Schenhoff/ end for The Good Soldier Schweik /directed by A. Tsenuritis/. All these productions were at the Letvian Puppet Theatre.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Christina SKALDINA
Additional information: Born in 1921; a puppet designer. She graduated from Art School in Leningrad. She now works in the Puppet Theatre in Petrozavodsk, Among her most important designs are those for productions of I Am Catching Up With Spring /directed by O. Zarubin/, The Cuckoo Clock /directed by V. Sovetov/, and A Souvenir from Karelia /directed by V. Sovetov/, all produced at the Puppet Theatre in Petrozavodsk.
Obrázky z katalogu
- Sofia UNOVICH
Additional information: Born in 1910, one of the best known stage designers in the field
of musical theatre. She also often designs sets for drama productions.
- Daniil LIDĚR
Additional information: Born in 1917, a laureate of the State Prize of the USSR, a stage designer. He studied at the I. Repin Institute of Painting, Architecture and Sculpture in Leningrad. He works for musical and drama theatres in Kiev, Moscow, Leningrad and elsewhere, He was formerly chief stage designer of the I. Franko Ukranian Drama Theatre in Kiev, at present he is the chief of the stage design department of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kiev.
- R. KONDAKHSAZOV
- Nely POLJAKOVA
- Astrida RINJKE
- Irene VOKALIS
- Boris Messerer
* 1933, Moscow
Specialization: architect
Additional information: Born in 1933. He graduated from the Architectural Institute in
Moscow. He is active in graphics, painting and stage design .
Among his best known designs are those for productions of A Suite
from Carmen and Lieutenant Kizhe and the stage designs for
various ballets. He participated in the Prague Quadrennial in
1967 and in 1971.
- Jaak Vaus
Specialization: set designer
Additional information: Born in 1946, a stage and puppet designer. He graduated from the Academy of Arts in Tallinn. Among his best designs are those for productions of The Silversmith /directed by F. Veine/, of The Red Hat /directed by R. Agur/ and Following the Footsteps of Man /directed by R. Agur/. All these productions were at the Puppet Theatre in Tallinn, where Vaus is now chief designer.
- Andris Freibergs
Specialization: set designer
Additional information: He graduated from the Latvian Academy of Arts and currently works as stage designer and art director of the Latvian National Opera and also as Head Professor of the Stage Design Department of the Latvian Academy of Arts. He worked as a stage designer at the Leninist Komsomol Theatre in Riga. He also designs sets for theatres in other Russian cities and for theatres in Poland.He exhibited at the PQ in 1975, in 1979 and in 1995 - in 1995 he won the Silver Medal.
