Биография автора
Sergei Obraztsov (1901-1992) was a Soviet puppeteer, director and artist, considered one of the greatest masters of 20th century puppet theatre. In 1931 he became the director of the Central Puppet Theatre in Moscow. He produced and staged sixty-one plays. One of his most famous productions is Neobyknovennyi Kontsert (The Unusual Concert, 1946). In addition to this theatre work, Obraztsov was also a prolific writer and educator. He is the author of several books, including Moia professiia (My Profession, 1950) and Po stupenkam pamiati (On the Steps of Memory, 1987), which became essential professional manuals for puppeteers worldwide. He also worked in film, earning recognition as the creator of the documentary monologue genre. In addition, he lectured at clubs and universities, ran training programs for puppeteers, and taught at the Moscow Academy of Theatre Arts. From 1976 to 1983, Obraztsov served as president of the Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA), and in 1984 was named honorary president. He received many prestigious state awards, but the one he cherished most was the Order of the Smile, which he was awarded in Poland in 1974.