Vadim Vasilyevich Zhukov is an artist of the puppet scene and director of the puppet theater, who has been creating a fairy-tale world for 60 years and delights spectators of all ages. He is the master of the puppet world. It was always "important for him that after the performances at least a small grain of good remains in the children."
From biographical information
Vadim Vasilyevich Zhukov was born in 1934 in Krymsk into a military family. During the war, he was left without parents: his father went missing, his mother was shot by the Germans. The orphan was raised by a woman who was still nursed by his mother. Vadim wanted to become a naval officer and enter the Nakhimov School. After graduating from a vocational school, he worked at construction sites, was a host at cultural events. He began working as an actor and director of the Crimean Puppet Theater even before his education at the Leningrad Institute of Theater, Music and Cinematography.
First acting and directing experience
The first experience of V. Zhukov as an actor was associated with a curiosity. He went on stage with a doll and held it in his numb outstretched hand for more than an hour. It turned out that they simply forgot to tell him when to leave the stage. The young man began to watch the children from behind the screen, saw how happy they were, what surprised faces they had. It was then that he fell in love with dolls. V. Zhukov's debut directorial work was the performance "The Scarlet Flower".
The way to the hearts of children is found
In 1968-2007 V. Zhukov worked in Lipetsk as director and art director of a puppet theater. Gradually a team of enthusiasts was formed, which became a family for V. Zhukov. He really appreciated that everyone in their troupe wants to work well and be needed. Over the years, V. Zhukov has created about three hundred performances.
The theater took part in the All-Polish Festival. The actors performed the performance in one breath. Polish directors said that they have been looking for a way to a child's heart for many years, and the Lipetsk Theater has brought a performance where it has already been found.
When the television boom with militants began, V. Zhukov thought that the theater needed to change something. And then, as he says, he looked into the eyes of the guys and realized - nothing needs to be changed. Children need a kind fairy tale, native Russian fairy tale heroes. And no "black cloaks" and ghosts will replace them.
The famous creator of the Central Puppet Theater Sergei Obraztsov then talked with almost every artist of the Lipetsk Puppet Theater, watched the brought performance and highly appreciated the work of Vadim Vasilyevich Zhukov.
Pioneer puppeteers
The staff of the Lipetsk Puppet Theater ventured out on a long journey. The actors were the first messengers of the Soviet theatrical art, let alone the puppet theater, to Africa. It was decided to talk about the friendship of two amazing animals, whose homeland is Africa. The performance was called "The Giraffe and the Rhino" based on the play by the German writer H. Gunther. Young Africans sat with open mouths. The tale began. The dolls came to life and spoke. At first there was dead silence in the hall, a wonderful translation sounded. And the children smiled, began to laugh. The excitement was growing. All performances were accompanied by friendly and long applause.
The actors played temperamentally and enthusiastically. The legendary Russian patriotism played an important role in overcoming difficulties during the trip. During their performances in Africa, the actors were convinced that in any part of the world, the most beloved are children, and they have their own love - dolls.
Theater today
Since 1965, when the created theater was directed by G. N. Bokova, more than forty years have passed. For the last 10 years, O. V. Ponomarev. The collective has many diplomas of various levels for professional art and for the originality of performance. Performances The Queen of Spades "The Legend of the Little Mermaid" "Rim-team-ted Bear" "Lipetsk Fair" "Evening parties in Little Russia", "Son's Secret", "Golden Chicken" and others delight not only children, but also adults.
The Zhukov family
All his life V. Zhukov loves his wife Galina Nikolaevna, who is his muse. The Zhukovs consider their meeting a gift of fate. It happened during the recruitment of actors. Among them was a beautiful 17-year-old girl with a stunning braid.
V. Zhukov advised the director to take it. We looked closely at each other for three years. Domestic troubles did not frighten them, and they settled with their eight-year-old daughter in Lipetsk. Soon a son, Alexander, was born.
Daughter Tatyana recalls how she was on vacation with relatives. The girl sat, bored, and a passer-by asked her what she was doing here and who her parents were. She, referring to the tour, replied: "My parents are Gypsies!"
Tatiana believes that she had a wonderful childhood. In the puppet theater she slept and did her homework. Sometimes she was allowed to take part in the play. Tatiana became a physician. She still remembers her little experience of working with dolls.
Vadim Vasilyevich admits in one of his interviews that the family always talked about the theater, and it never got bored. In 2017, the Zhukov family celebrated the 60th anniversary of their marriage registration. This couple has grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Exclusive option
The activities of the famous artist V. Zhukov, who has earned many awards, is a whole era of creativity in the puppet world.
He was always sure that puppet theater is a very important part of childhood, a good helper in raising children. The puppeteer V. Zhukov is called "an exclusive version".
