Sorokin Nikolai Evgenievich, theater and film actor, theater director: biography, family, creativity

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

There are people who are given a lot from birth, the main thing for them is not to lose their gift, not to let it go to the wind, but to save and increase, to share with relatives and with the whole world. Sorokin Nikolai Evgenievich is a famous Russian theater and film actor, director and artistic director, theater director and politician, public figure and exemplary family man. This article is an attempt to "embrace the immensity", a story about how he managed to combine everything.

Children's dreams

The birth certificate of the future genius of Russian theater and cinema says that Sorokin Nikolai was born in the Rostov region, in the Veselovsky district, on the Kazachiy farm. And this momentous event happened on February 15, 1952.

Then no one, not even mom, could imagine what a bright lifeprepared for a little man who quickly learns the world around him. Relatives only knew that, as a hereditary Cossack, he would never be in check, that his thoughts and plans were broad, his thoughts were pure, his actions were bold and courageous. With this knowledge, Nikolai set off to conquer the world, and his dreams led him to the stage.

First steps to the profession

They say that he dreamed of acting from an early age, although there was no theater or other cultural institution on their farm. Knowing how many people want to become artists, Nikolai Sorokin was not afraid to apply to the Rostov School of Arts.

A talented young man was chosen by the acting department, luck favored him, he successfully passed the entrance examinations. The acting course in 1971 was recruited by Mikhail Bushnoy, People's Artist of the USSR, he carefully looked at talented young people. The master evaluated their acting data, maybe even foresaw who, like him, would receive the title of "People's".

The basics of the profession: theory and practice

After graduating from college in 1975, the actor enters the Rostov Academic Drama Theater. M. Gorky, who became his fate. In this theater, he will play his best roles, climb up the career ladder, reaching the position of director of the Melpomene temple.

He will leave his native land only for a while, for example, to learn something new. So, Nikolai Evgenievich, striving to reach the heights of mastery, will enter GITIS, at the acting and directing department. He will comprehend the secrets of the profession under the guidance of the inimitable Elina Bystritskaya.

To a talented actorthere will be an offer to stay in the capital and work in one of the Moscow theaters. But a free Cossack, tied to his homeland with thousands of threads, will return home to continue playing in his native theater. And so it will be more than once, he always returned home - after filming, touring and political career.

Timeless classic

“Unfortunately, young people today read little, read the classics even less and do not know the classic plots at all. The task of the theater is to open the wonderful world of literature through stage performance to young and young viewers,” said Nikolai Sorokin in an interview, whose biography consists of dozens of performances staged based on famous works.

On the stage of his native Rostov Drama Theater, he played in performances based on Dostoevsky, Gogol, Chekhov, Shakespeare. Living different roles, passing them through himself, his brilliant inner "I", Nikolai Evgenievich brought them closer to the viewer, made them close, understandable, evoked reciprocal feelings.

He can play any role

The audience did not miss a single performance, if Sorokin Nikolai was announced in the poster, as they say, again a full house. Critics noted that with his appearance, he could easily play heroes-lovers, but the actor himself sought to expand the range of roles and characters, be funny and serious, comical and tragic.

In the performance based on the play by V. Shukshin "I came to give you freedom" Nikolai Evgenievich plays the role of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich the Quietest, in"Virgin Soil Upturned" according to M. Sholokhov - communist Makar Nagulny. Emperor Nero and Stalin, ataman Kaledin and Salieri, Richard III and the jester - these are the theatrical roles of N. Sorokin, which have forever entered the golden fund of the Russian theater.

As Artistic Director

Surprisingly, Sorokin is not only an actor, he is the creator of many brilliant performances in the drama theater. And again, the range of productions is wide, in the center of his interests are Russian classics (N. Ostrovsky, A. Chekhov, N. Gogol) and foreign (A. Dumas, Lope de Vega), comedies (Molière) and serious things about the Second World War (M. Sholokhov).

On the favorite stage of the Rostov Drama Theater in 1997, he staged a New Year's show with a light, sparkling title - "Champagne Splashes". The audience liked it so much that next year they had to do the next performance, and more, and more, and more … An interesting move - for 16 years the production did not change its name, there were additions, such as "Legends of the Sea" or "The Twelve" (show, staged for the twelfth time).

The only time director Sorokin cheated on his native theater was when he staged the play "Vassa Zheleznova" based on the play by M. Gorky at the Pleven Puppet and Drama Theater. I. Radoeva, in Bulgaria. And here, too, a resounding success awaited him.

A talented person is talented in everything

Nikolai Sorokin received a new position in the theater in 1996, he was appointed artistic director of his native theater, 11 years later he became director. The chair of the head is not at allchanged his human qualities, a professional in everything, he understood that it was impossible to adapt the theater, this living organism, to suit himself, his interests.

As a director, he was more involved in administrative activities, attracted the best directors from Russia and abroad to productions at the Rostov Drama Theater. Spectators of the Cossack capital were able to see directorial productions by masters from Moscow and Ryazan, St. Petersburg and Sochi.

Attention: a movie is being made

Relations with the cinema did not work out, the actor had neither the strength nor the time for it, there are only six films in the filmography. And, perhaps, the very first role, Makar Nagulny in Virgin Soil Upturned, filmed in 1985, influenced this. Moviegoers most often remember the implacable communist who aspires to the "world revolution" and the rotten official, the mayor of the city, "The Last Slaughter", a 2006 film.

The script was written by Valery Todorovsky and Yuri Korotkov, directed by Sergei Bobrov. The year of filming and the title - "The Last Slaughter" (2006 film) - speak for themselves, the country is in collapse and crisis, corrupt government and impoverished people. The big and important topics raised by the director remain relevant even today, 20 years later.

Awards

Nikolai Evgenievich Sorokin during his lifetime was awarded many awards and titles. He became an Honored Artist of the RSFSR in 1988, received the title of "People's Artist of the RSFSR" in 1999. The Order of Friendship was awarded to the artist in 1996, and the medal"The Benefactor", which he himself considered the most important, in 2009.

In 2005, at the All-Russian Theater Festival in Ryazan "Stars of Victory", Nikolai Sorokin received the Grand Prix of the festival and an award for the play "The Fate of a Man" ("for the original reading of M. Sholokhov's playwriting").

Political career and social activities

Nikolai Sorokin entered politics in 1999, this was due to his work in Moscow. He was elected a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation (III convocation).

He became a member of the Unity faction, joined the United Russia party. As a deputy, he oversaw culture and tourism, acting as deputy chairman. At the same time, he continued to be artistic director at the Rostov theater.

Family

Director and artistic director, politician and teacher - he managed everything and everywhere. Only the family knew how hard it was for him, and supported him in every possible way. Sorokin's family is small - his wife Tamara Alexandrovna, who worked as a simple make-up artist in the theater, and daughter Alina.

On the other hand, Nikolai Sorokin has a large acting family - the entire drama theater of Rostov. And besides the "theatrical children-relatives", there were also students and make-up artists, costume designers and lighting, orchestra musicians and cashiers. And, of course, his audience, who cannot come to terms with the death of the Master and remember his brilliant roles, his bright game and no less bright life…