Oleg Lavrov is an actor and director whose creative biography is inextricably linked with the Kimra Drama and Comedy Theater. For more than 20 years, he served as the artistic director of the theater and put a lot of effort into its development and prosperity. Oleg Lavrov’s contribution to the development of the culture and art of the Tver region was highly appreciated at the state level, in 2007 he was awarded the title “People’s Artist of the Russian Federation”.
Biography: early years
Oleg Lavrov is a successor to the acting dynasty. His father Alexei Ivanovich played on the stage of the Kimra Drama and Comedy Theater. Oleg Alekseevich was born on October 2, 1948 in the city of Kimry, then still in the Kalinin Region (in 1990 it was renamed the Tver Region). Kimry is a small town on the banks of the Volga with a population of just under fifty thousand people.
From childhood Oleg Lavrov showed interest in the acting profession: he attended a school drama circle, studied at the local House of Culture at the Krasnaya Zvezda shoe factory.
After graduation, he continued his studies at the theater and directing department of the Moscow State Institute of Culture (MGUKI). He received his diploma in 1970. Then there was service in the armed forces, after which Lavrov finally began his professional career.
Creation
In 1972, Oleg Alekseevich returned to his hometown and began working in the recreation center “40 years of October”. But there he lingered for a short while. Lavrov takes a job as an actor in the troupe of the Moscow Regional Drama Theater. Return to the small homeland took place in 1975, three years later. Now his choice was limited to the Kimra Drama and Comedy Theater. Most likely, Oleg Lavrov did not even imagine that he would devote the rest of his life to this theater.
For several years he went on stage as an actor, then gradually began to try his hand at directing. The debut work of the director Oleg Lavrov was the play “Cylinder” based on the play of the same name by the Italian comedian Eduardo de Filippo.
In 1978, acting luck brought him to the set of the comedy film "Puss in a Poke." In this picture, Lavrov got a cameo role, and the main stars were Borislav Brondukov, Oleg Anofriev, Stanislav Sadalsky. So Oleg Alekseevich gained invaluable experience in the cinema.
In the 80s, a large-scale reconstruction of the Kimra Drama and Comedy Theater was carried out. The building has undergone significant changes affecting the stage, equipment with theater equipment, an auditorium and premises for employees. On October 26, 1991, the renewed theater opened its doors to its spectators. A few months earlier - in March 1991 - Oleg Lavrov was introduced to the troupe as the main director. His debut on stage in a new position coincided with the opening of the theater after reconstruction. In honor of the significant event, high-ranking guests gathered in the hall: USSR Minister of Construction Sergey Bashilov and People's Artist of the USSR Mikhail Ulyanov. Oleg Alekseevich presented the performance “Cunning in Love” based on the play of the Spanish playwright Lope de Vega.
Irina Andrianova, People’s Artist of Russia and actress of the Tver Drama Theater, shared with reporters her memories of Lavrov’s appointment to the post of chief director. According to her, Oleg Alekseevich at first was not sure of his abilities. Decision was given to him by a conversation with the artistic director of the Tver Drama Theater Vera Efimova. He asked a colleague whose opinion was very appreciated: “Do you think I can?” She confidently answered: “You can, you are strong and knowledgeable!” Since then, Lavrov called Efimov his theatrical godmother.
In 1994, Oleg Alekseevich took the post of artistic director of the Kimry Theater. For more than twenty years at the head of the theater, he staged many plays based on the works of famous playwrights:
- "Flea" E. Zamyatin;
- "Rest Day" by V. Kataev;
- "Moliere";
- “Passion under the Elms” by J. O'Neill;
- “Talents and fans” of A. Ostrovsky;
- "Tram" Desire "T. Williams;
- The Cherry Orchard by A. Chekhov;
- "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" by E. Albee;
- “A free man enters” T. Stoppard.
In 1999, the performance "Flea" was awarded at the All-Russian Theater Festival in Vologda with a prize for the best style decision.
The previously mentioned Irina Andrianova shared with journalists her vision of the work of Oleg Lavrov: “He was constantly in search and boldly talked about what he was sure of. As for the performances, sometimes these were conflicting searches and finds that aroused surprise and questions. He had his own keen look at classics and modernity. But he always answered: "I see so." And, we must pay tribute, we still remember many of his works …"
Oleg Alekseevich paid much attention to working with young actors. Artists noted his exactingness to work and at the same time, excellent organizational skills, a rare gift of persuasion, the ability to create a special cozy atmosphere around him. From 2009 to 2018, Lavrov represented the interests of his native city in the Public Chamber of the Tver Region. He was a member of the commission on education and culture.
Unfortunately, due to health problems in 2016, Lavrov left the post of artistic director of the theater. Oleg Alekseevich made a significant contribution to the development of theatrical art in the Tver region, as evidenced by his awards and titles:
- Honored Artist of the Russian Federation (1996);
- People's Artist of the Russian Federation (2007);
- honorary badge of the governor of the Tver region "Cross of St. Michael of Tver" (2012).
