You’re looking at a letter of recommendation given in 1953 to a 10th year graduate of the Saratov Men’s Secondary School, Oleg Tabakov. The document was signed by the chairman of the Saratov Region Radio Committee.
A people’s artist of the USSR, theatre and film director Oleg Tabakov was born in Saratov in 1935 into a family of doctors. He studied at Men’s Secondary School № 18 and between 1950 and 1953, was part of the theatre club ‘The Young Guard’, at the Saratov Palace of pioneers and schoolchildren. Natalia Sukhostav taught Tabakov the basic principles of acting. Having finished his studies in 1953, he left Saratov and enrolled in Vasily Toporkov’s class at the school-studio at the Moscow Art Theatre. Tabakov was one of his best students. In his fourth year on the course, he took on the role of Fedya, a naval cadet in Alexander Volodin’s play ‘The Factory Girl’, for his final exam performance. In 1956, Tabakov made his first film appearance. One year on, along with other young graduates and students of the Moscow Art Theatre, he became part of a studio for young actors called ‘Sovremennik’. This studio was set up by Oleg Efremov. At the same time, Tabakov started to work on radio.
Oleg Tabakov remained a leading actor at the ‘Sovremennik’ theatre until 1983, which had previously been a studio for young actors. In 1970, after Oleg Efremov was appointed as artistic director of the Moscow Art Theatre, Tabakov took the decision to become the new director of ‘Sovremennik’. From 2000, Tabakov lead the A.P. Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre.
In 1976, Oleg Tabakov started teaching at the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts. He also set up a theatre studio for secondary-school students, which in 1986 became a theatre-studio under his direction, widely-known as ‘Tabakerka’ (The Snuff Box).
Tabakov has upheld close ties with his native city throughout his life. In 2003, he was named as an ‘Honorary Citizen of Saratov’, and then later as an ‘Honorary Citizen of Saratov Region’. There is a memorial to Tabakov in Saratov, which was unveiled in honor of his 80th birthday.
A people’s artist of the USSR, theatre and film director Oleg Tabakov was born in Saratov in 1935 into a family of doctors. He studied at Men’s Secondary School № 18 and between 1950 and 1953, was part of the theatre club ‘The Young Guard’, at the Saratov Palace of pioneers and schoolchildren. Natalia Sukhostav taught Tabakov the basic principles of acting. Having finished his studies in 1953, he left Saratov and enrolled in Vasily Toporkov’s class at the school-studio at the Moscow Art Theatre. Tabakov was one of his best students. In his fourth year on the course, he took on the role of Fedya, a naval cadet in Alexander Volodin’s play ‘The Factory Girl’, for his final exam performance. In 1956, Tabakov made his first film appearance. One year on, along with other young graduates and students of the Moscow Art Theatre, he became part of a studio for young actors called ‘Sovremennik’. This studio was set up by Oleg Efremov. At the same time, Tabakov started to work on radio.
Oleg Tabakov remained a leading actor at the ‘Sovremennik’ theatre until 1983, which had previously been a studio for young actors. In 1970, after Oleg Efremov was appointed as artistic director of the Moscow Art Theatre, Tabakov took the decision to become the new director of ‘Sovremennik’. From 2000, Tabakov lead the A.P. Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre.
In 1976, Oleg Tabakov started teaching at the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts. He also set up a theatre studio for secondary-school students, which in 1986 became a theatre-studio under his direction, widely-known as ‘Tabakerka’ (The Snuff Box).
Tabakov has upheld close ties with his native city throughout his life. In 2003, he was named as an ‘Honorary Citizen of Saratov’, and then later as an ‘Honorary Citizen of Saratov Region’. There is a memorial to Tabakov in Saratov, which was unveiled in honor of his 80th birthday.
