The artistic director of the Komissarzhevskaya Theater Viktor Novikov has died
“Dad left two hours ago. He died at home, he was sick, but the day before yesterday he went to the theater,” she said.
Viktor Novikov was born in 1943 in the city of Pugachev, Saratov region. In 1961-1966. studied at the Leningrad State Institute of Theater, Music and Cinematography (specialty - theater studies).
From the late 60s he began working at the Komissarzhevskaya Theater as an assistant to the chief director for literary affairs, in 1987-1992. was deputy director for repertoire and work with playwrights.
Novikov has worked as the artistic director of the theater since 1992. He was secretary of the Union of Theater Workers of Russia and a member of the board of the Committee for Culture of St. Petersburg. In 1999, he was awarded the title “Honored Artist of Russia.” Honored Worker of Culture of the RSFSR (1987). Novikov is also a laureate of the Petropol Art Prize for “many years of dedication to the theater and creative longevity.”
“It was Viktor Novikov, during the times of Soviet censorship, who managed to “lit” the banned plays of M. Shatrov and I. Drutse. He introduced the name of Grigory Gorin to the theater: a brilliant playwright, who became a close friend of Viktor Abramovich, made his debut on our stage. Reading up to 600 plays a year, Novikov very soon became an ace in his field. It is no coincidence that the best playwrights of the 1970s and 1980s gave their plays, first of all, to him,” according to the theater’s website.
