Sergey Vladimirovich Obraztsov 1901-1992.
A distinguished theatrical figure, actor, stage manager, founder and first director of The Puppet Theatre. People's Artist of the USSR (1954), Hero of Socialist Labor (1971), Professor at The State Institute of Theatrical Art of Lunacharsky (1973), President of the International Union of Puppeteers - UNIMA (since 1976), and its Soviet section (since 1958), winner of the USSR State Prize (1946).
Born on July 5, 1901 in Moscow, Obraztsov became a student of The Higher Art and Theater Workshop Vhutemas in 1918, and a few years later enrolled in the music studio of The Moscow Art Theatre. From 1922 he was an actor at Moscow Art Theater 2 and became an expert on the secrets behind acting and directing.
In the 1930’s he gained prominence as a pop artist producing the parody Songs with Puppets.
In 1931 Obraztsov established a unique puppet theatre and was its undisputed leader for over 60 years. He made substantial contributions to the development of puppetry techniques and theories helping define the features of the genre. Along with inventing a new system for using puppets, he raised and educated several generations of brilliant actors, directors, set designers, artists and playwrights of puppetry which today operate in hundreds of theaters across Russia and abroad.
Obraztsov invented the documentary monologue genre and wrote the script for such famous films as “The Camera is Accusing", "Miracle Nearby", "The Unbelievable Truth" and "Who needs Vaska". The film originals are stored in the theatre’s museum.
Obraztsov believed that art was the greatest diplomat, carrying with it the ability to reconcile differences between nations separated by thousands of kilometers. He proved this throughout his life, in his role as a prominent public figure, a leading scientist and a member of The Berlin Academy of Arts (1955).
Obraztsov’s creative career as puppeteer is marked by several performances of classics in both Russian and world theatre. These include “Wish Upon a Pike" (1936), "Puss in Boots" (1937), "Aladdin’s Magic Lamp" (1940), "King-Deer" (1943), "Funny Bears" (1945 ), "An Unusual Concert" (1946), "The Divine Comedy" (1961), "Don Juan" (1975) and many others.
These shows continue to receive praise and admiration from professionals and make their way to posters in theatres to this day.
Obraztsov was a figure who tried to bring humanity to the brutal twentieth century.
His friends and acquaintances included Gordon Craig, Solomon Mikhoels, Charlie Chaplin, Jim Henson, Gerard Philipe, Jean-Paul Sartre, and teachers Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko.
“He was a man of phenomenal taste, amazing creative ability, and, above all, uniqueness. You cannot find another Obraztsov in the world.”
“He defined his own profession, created an entire puppetry industry for himself and his puppets. In my opinion, he is more talented than many of today’s actors and actresses."
That is how the great storyteller Chukovsky described Obraztsov.
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