There are people who are given a lot from birth, the main thing for them is not to lose their gift, not to let the wind go, but to preserve and increase, share with relatives and the whole world. Sorokin Nikolai Evgenievich - a famous Russian theater and film actor, director and art director, theater and politician director, public figure and exemplary family man. This article is an attempt to "embrace the immense," a story about how he managed to combine everything.
Childhood dreams
The birth certificate of the future genius of Russian theater and cinema says that Nikolai Sorokin was born in the Rostov region, in the Veselovsky district, on the Cossack farm. And this significant event happened on February 15, 1952.
Then no one, not even mom, could have imagined what a bright life is for a little man who quickly learns the world around him. Relatives knew only that, as a hereditary Cossack, he would never be in check, that his thoughts and plans were broad, his thoughts were pure, his actions were bold and courageous. With this knowledge, Nikolai went to conquer the world, and dreams led him to the scene.
The first steps to the profession
They say that he dreamed of acting from an early age, although there was no theater or other cultural institution on their farm. Knowing how many people want to become artists, Nikolai Sorokin was not afraid to submit documents to the Rostov School of Arts.
The talented young man was chosen by the acting department, luck favored him, he successfully passed the entrance tests. In 1971, the acting course was recruited by Mikhail Bushnoy, People's Artist of the USSR, he carefully looked at talented young people. The master evaluated their acting data, maybe even foresaw who, like him, would receive the title of “People’s”.
The basics of the profession: theory and practice
After graduating from college in 1975, the actor ends up at the Rostov Academic Drama Theater. Gorky, who became his fate. In this theater, he will play his best roles, rise up the career ladder, reaching the position of director of the Melpomene temple.
He will leave his native penates only for a while, for example, to learn something new. So, Nikolai Evgenievich, seeking to reach the heights of excellence, will go to GITIS, to the acting and directing department. He will comprehend the secrets of the profession under the guidance of the inimitable Elina Bystritskaya.
The talented actor will be invited to stay in the capital and work in one of the Moscow theaters. But the free Cossack, tied to the homeland by thousands of threads, will return home to continue playing in his native theater. And so it will be more than once, he always returned home - after filming, touring and political career.
Ageless Classics
“Young people, unfortunately, read little today, read classics even less and do not know classical plots at all. The task of the theater is to open for the young and young viewers the wonderful world of literature through scenic action, ”said Nikolai Sorokin in one of the interviews, whose biography consists of dozens of performances staged from famous works.
On the stage of his native Rostov Drama Theater, he played in performances of Dostoevsky, Gogol, Chekhov, Shakespeare. Living different roles, passing them through himself, his ingenious inner self, Nikolai Evgenievich brought them closer to the audience, made them close, understandable, evoked reciprocal feelings.
Any role is subject to him
The audience did not miss a single performance, if Nikolai Sorokin was declared on the poster, as they say, again is a full house. Critics noted that with his appearance he could easily play hero lovers, but the actor himself sought to expand the range of roles and characters, to be funny and serious, comical and tragic.
In the play based on the play by V. Shukshin, “I came to give you freedom”, Nikolai Evgenievich plays the role of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Tishayshiy, and in the “Virgin Soil Upturned” by M. Sholokhov, Communist Makar Nagulny. Emperor Nero and Stalin, Ataman Kaledin and Salieri, Richard III and the clown - these are theatrical roles of N. Sorokin, which are forever included in the gold fund of the Russian theater.
In the role of artistic director
Surprisingly, Sorokin is not only an actor, he is the creator of many brilliant performances in the drama theater. And again, the range of productions is wide, in the center of his interests are Russian classics (N. Ostrovsky, A. Chekhov, N. Gogol) and foreign (A. Dumas, Lope de Vega), comedies (Moliere) and serious things about the Second World War (M. Sholokhov).
In 1997, on the beloved stage of the Rostov Drama Theater, he staged a New Year's show with a light, sparkling name - “Spray of Champagne”. The audience liked it so much that next year they had to make the next performance, and again, and again, and again ... An interesting move - for 16 years the production did not change its name, additions appeared, such as "Legends of the Sea" or "Twelve" (show, staged for the twelfth time).
The only time director Sorokin changed his native theater when he staged the play "Vassa Zheleznova" based on a play by M. Gorky at the Pleven Puppet and Drama Theater named after I. Radoeva, in Bulgaria. And here, too, a resounding success awaited him.
Talented person - talented in everything
Nikolai received a new position in the theater in 1996, he was appointed artistic director of his native theater, and 11 years later he became director. The leader’s chair didn’t change his human qualities in any way, he was professional in everything, he understood that it was impossible for the theater, this living organism, to adapt for itself, its own interests.
As a director, he was engaged in more administrative activities, attracted the best directors of Russia and abroad to performances in the Rostov Drama Theater. Spectators of the Cossack capital were able to see directorial productions of masters from Moscow and Ryazan, St. Petersburg and Sochi.
“Warning: a movie is being shot!”
Relations with the cinema did not work out, the actor had neither the strength nor the time for him, there were only six paintings in the filmography. And, perhaps, the very first role, Makar Nagulny in "Virgin Soil Upturned", filmed in 1985, influenced this. Moviegoers most often recall the implacable communist aspiring to the “world revolution” and the rotten official, the mayor of the city, “The Last Slaughter”, the 2006 film.
The script was written by Valery Todorovsky and Yuri Korotkov, director Sergey Bobrov. The year of filming and the name - “The Last Slaughter” (2006 film) - speak for themselves, in the country the collapse and crisis, corrupt power and poor people. Big and important topics raised by the director even today, after 20 years, remain relevant.
Awards
Nikolai Evgenievich Sorokin during his lifetime was awarded many awards and titles. He became an Honored Artist of the RSFSR in 1988, received the title of “People's Artist of the RSFSR” in 1999. The Order of Friendship was awarded to the artist in 1996, and the Philanthropist medal, which he considered the most important, in 2009.
In 2005, at the All-Russian Theater Festival in Ryazan, “Victory Stars,” Nikolai Sorokin received the festival’s Grand Prix and an award for the play “The Fate of a Man” (“for the original reading of M. Sholokhov’s drama”).
Political career and social activities
Nikolai Sorokin entered politics in 1999; this was due to his work in Moscow. He was elected a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation (III convocation).
He became a member of the Unity faction, joined the United Russia party. As a deputy, he oversaw culture and tourism, fulfilling the duties of deputy chairman. At the same time he continued to be an artistic director in the Rostov theater.
A family
Director and artistic director, politician and teacher - he managed everything and everywhere. Only the family knew how hard it was for him, and fully supported. Sorokin’s family is small - his wife Tamara Alexandrovna, who worked as a simple make-up artist in the theater, and her daughter Alina.
On the other hand, Nikolai Sorokin has a large acting family - the whole drama theater of Rostov. And besides the “theater children-relatives”, there were also students and make-up artists, dressers and lighting, musicians of the orchestra and cashiers. And, of course, his viewers, who cannot reconcile with the death of the Master and recall his brilliant roles, his vivid play and no less vivid life ...