Anatoly Efros, Honored Artist of the RSFSR - a significant name in Russian theater direction. A follower of Stanislavsky, he created his own theater school, became an innovator in the science of acting
Anatoly was born in 1925 in Kharkov, in the family of an engineer and translator. He grew up as an ordinary boy, although he was distinguished by an interest in the theater and everything that was associated with it.
During the war, the Efrosov family was evacuated to Perm, where the Mossovet Theater moved. Then Anatoly decided to enter the studio of this theater. It was interesting here, but he felt the need for directing, and soon he entered GITIS, for directing courses.
Director's career
The debut of the young director Efros took place in 1951 - it was the play "Prague Remains Mine". This is followed by the second performance - "Come to Zvonkovoye". Both performances were recognized as successful by critics, and the audience liked them. A little later, Anatoly Efros was sent to Ryazan, to the local drama theater, for the position of director. There he worked for two years and returned to Moscow.
Here he is accepted as a director at the Central Children's Theater, which was directed by Maria Knebel, a former teacher of Anatoly. She completely trusted him, and under Efros the theater flourished. He staged magnificent performances for teenagers based on plays by Alexander Khmelik and Viktor Rozov.
At that time, Oleg Efremov, Lev Durov, Oleg Tabakov played in the CDT. They played performances on topical topics, and the audience accepted them with enthusiasm, loved them for their novelty and sincerity.
In 1963, Efros became the director of the Lenin Komsomol Theater, and a creative youth team gathered there. The future stars of theater and cinema work with him: Valentin Gaft, Alexander Zbruev, Anna Dmitrieva, Mikhail Derzhavin, Lev Durov, Alexander Shirvindt, Olga Yakovleva. They are happy to stage and play plays by contemporary playwrights and classics.
Since 1966, a black streak begins in the life of Efros: his production of The Seagull was declared unsuccessful, and the performance was banned. Anatoly Vasilyevich moved to the Theater on Malaya Bronnaya, but even here the production of The Three Sisters failed, and the performance was also banned. The play "The Seducer Kolobashkin" based on the play by Radzinsky was also sharply criticized. And only in the classical repertoire, he was finally able to rehabilitate himself.
At the end of the 60s, critics started talking about a new direction in theater direction, about the school of Efros, about his directorial phenomenon. During that period, his performances "Romeo and Juliet", "A Month in the Country", "Marriage", "Othello", two different performances "Don Juan" were released.
The director himself becomes a teacher at GITIS and publishes his books: "Rehearsal - my love", "Continuation of the theatrical story", "Profession: director", "Book Four". In them, Efros described his biography, and also shared his stage findings and directorial experience.
In the late 70s, a new professional crisis happened in the life of Efros, and he was transferred to the Taganka Theater. Here the director was received so coolly that he could not establish contact with the troupe. In such an environment, he worked for many years. And largely because of such a nervous situation, he undermined his health.
In 1987, Anatoly Efros passed away and was buried at the Kuntsevo cemetery.
Personal life
Back in the early 50s, Anatoly Efros married Natalya Krymova, who was going to become a theater critic. Since then, the couple did not part, although Anatoly Vasilyevich was credited with novels on the side.
However, he was so busy with his work and so passionate about it that there was simply no time for the rest - this is the opinion of many people who knew Efros during his lifetime.
In 1954, Anatoly and Natalya had a son, Dmitry. He followed in the footsteps of his parents: he graduated from the Moscow Art Theater School and became a production director. Since the 90s, Dmitry has been painting.
