Aleksey Dmitrievich Popov

Aleksey Dmitrievich Popov (Алексей Дмитриевич Попов; 1891-1961) was a leading Soviet theatre director who managed the Soviet Army Theatre between 1935 and 1960. He was awarded three Stalin Prizes and was named a People's Artist of the USSR in 1946.[1] His son Andrey was a notable actor.

Popov made his directorial debut in 1923 at Vakhtangov's studio and gained wide recognition as the chief director of the Revolution Theatre in 1931-35. After moving to the Red Army Theatre in 1935, Popov "perfected the bombastic style of the battle drama on the enormous firing range of a stage".[2] Popov's theatre became known for monumental war-themed productions with expressionistic touches.[3]

Popov was appointed Dean of the GITIS theatre academy shortly before his death. He authored several lengthy theoretical works and a book of memoirs. His disciples include Anatoly Efros and Leonid Kheifets.

References

  1. ↑ Попов, Алексей Дмитриевич in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia
  2. ↑ Anatoly Smeliansky. The Russian Theatre After Stalin. Cambridge University Press, 1999. ISBN 9780521587945. Page 5.
  3. ↑ The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Europe. Taylor & Francis, 2001. ISBN 9780415251570. Page 710.