Moscow Art Theatre: Oleg Tabakov

People’s Artist of the USSR,

Oleg Tabakov

Oleg Tabakov graduated from the Moscow Art Theatre School in 1957 (course supervised by Vasily Toporkov). In1956-1983 he was one of the founders and leading actor of Sovremennik Moscow Theatre (The Contemporary). In 1971-1976 Oleg Tabakov was a managing director of Sovremennik Theatre.

His theatre debut was the role of student Misha (“The Immortal” by Victor Rozov, 1956). His first film role was Sasha in the film “Sasha begins his life” directed by Mikhail Schveitzer (1956). His portfolio includes more than 200 roles in theatre, TV, film and radio. Among them: Oleg Savin (“In Search for Happiness“ by Victor Rozov), Alexander Aduev („One Common Story” by Goncharov adapted by Victor Rozov), Brother Limon («The Ballad of the Sad Café» by Edward Albee), Hlestakov (“Inspector General“ by Nikolai Gogol Club Chinogerni Theatre in Prague), Malvolio (“The Twelfth Night“ by Shakespeare), Ancshugin (“Provincial Anecdotes” by Alexander Vampilov), Balalaykin („Balaykin and Co. ” by Sergei Mikhalkov based on Saltikhov-Schedrin), Konyaev („Eastern Tribune” by Alexander Galin).

In 1983 Tabakov joined the company of the Moscow Art Theatre where he had his debut in the role of Salieri (“Amadeus“ by Schaeffer). He also played in such shows as “The Bench“ by Gelman (He), „Sanctimonious persons' Kabala” by Bulgakov (Molier, Buton), „Woe from Wit” by Griboedov (Famusov).

During 1976– 1986 he had two graduations of his students at the GITIS. Later those became the foundation of the Studio at Chapligina Street (Tabakov Theatre). Since 1986 through 2000 Tabakov has been a director of the Moscow Art Theatre School where he had four graduations.

At the stage of the Tabakov Theatre he played in such shows as «Sailor’s Silence» by Alexander Galich (Meer Wolf), “One Common Story“ (Peter Aduyev), “I Ought to Be in the Pictures“ by Neil Simon (Herb Tucker), “The Last Ones“ by Gorky (Ivan Kolomiytsev), “Sublimation of Love“ by Benedetti (Leon Savasta), „The Room of Laughter” by Bogaev (Ivan Zhukov), „Lower Depth” by Gorky (Luka), „Love Letters” by Gurney (Andrew Lad III).

His first production of „Marriage” by Gogol he directed in 1968 in the theatre studio Sovremennik (The Contemporary). Since then he directed over 40 productions in Russia, Europe and the USA.

In June of 2000 Oleg Tabakov became an artistic director of the Moscow Art Theatre. Filmography: “The Tight Knot” (1956); “A Noisy Day” (1960); “Clear Skies” (1961), “War and Peace” (1967); “Shine, Shine, My Star” (1969); “King of the Reindeer” (1969), “The Property of Republic” (1972), “Seventeen Moments of Spring” (1973), “Kashtanka” (1975); “Twelve Chairs” (1976), “An Unfinished Piece for Mechanical Piano” (1977); “D'Artagnan and Three Musketeers” (1978), “A Few Days in the Life of I. I. Oblomov” (International Prize of the Festival in Boston for Best Actor in 1980) (1979); “The Open Book” (1979), “Flights of Fancy” (1983); “Mary Poppins” (1983), “After the Rain, on Thursday” (1985), “A Man From Boulevard des Capucines” (1987), “Dark Eyes” (1987), “The Art of Living in Odessa” (1989); “The Inner Circle” (1991); “Opinions of the parties” (1991); “The Shadows” (1991); “Shirli-Myrli” (1995); “Moskovskiye kanikuly” (1995); “Three Stories” (1997); “Sympathy Seeker” (1997); “What Has the Deceased Said” (1999), “Prezident i ego vnuchka” (2000); “The State Counsellor” (2005); “Andersen. Life Without Love” (2006), “Melody for a Street Organ International” (2008), “Lions, eagles and partridges” (2010), etc.