Viktor Shreyman Russian, Israeli theater director, actor, teacher, critic Date of Birth: 02.07.1945 Country: Israel

1. Early Life and Education
2. Founding the "Buratino" Puppet Theater
3. International Recognition and Collaboration
4. Honors and Achievements
5. Multifaceted Career and Legacy

Early Life and Education

Born in Kharkiv on July 2, 1945, Viktor Shrayman began his artistic journey as an actor at the Kharkiv Regional Puppet Theater from 1964 to 1967. Concurrently, he pursued his interest in literature as a member of a literary studio led by poet Boris Chichibabin.

In 1967, Shrayman enrolled at the Leningrad Institute of Theater, Music, and Cinema (now St. Petersburg State Academy of Theater Arts). He studied in the Department of Puppet Theater under the tutelage of Professor Mikhail Korolev, specializing in theater directing and the art of puppetry.

Founding the "Buratino" Puppet Theater

Upon graduating in 1972, Shrayman moved to Magnitogorsk to establish the city's first puppet theater. As its founding director, he worked tirelessly to create the Magnitogorsk Puppet and Actor Theater "Buratino."

For nearly two decades, from 1972 to 1990, Shrayman guided the "Buratino" theater as its chief director. During this time, he led the theater to prominence, staging numerous groundbreaking productions and earning recognition for his innovative approach to puppetry.

International Recognition and Collaboration

Shrayman's reputation extended beyond Russia's borders. In 1986, he became a personal member of the International Union of Puppetry Arts (UNIMA) and served on its Executive Committee from 1988 to 1992.

He actively participated in international theater projects, representing the USSR at conferences and festivals in the United States, France, Japan, Italy, Norway, Mongolia, and Poland. His contributions to the field of puppetry received international acclaim.

Honors and Achievements

Shrayman's directorial prowess was widely recognized. In 1989, he received two prestigious awards at the Festival of Polish Drama in Moscow for his production of "In the Open Sea" with the "Buratino" theater.

Continuing his successful trajectory, he was elected a member of the Board of the Union of Theater Workers of Russia in 1986. In 1998, his work on "What Happened at the Zoo?" for the "Buratino" theater earned him the award for Best Director at the Ural Open Puppet Theater Festival.

Multifaceted Career and Legacy

In addition to his work in puppetry, Shrayman also directed plays at the Magnitogorsk Drama Theater named after Alexander Pushkin from 1985 to 1986. He later assumed the role of Chief Director at the Magnitogorsk Opera and Ballet Theater from 1996 to 2000.

Throughout his multifaceted career, Shrayman shared his knowledge and expertise as a professor and head of the Department of Actor and Cinema at the Magnitogorsk State Conservatory from 1996 to 2007. He also authored several books on the craft of acting and directing, including "The Profession of an Actor" (1997) and "Effective Analysis of the Play" (2004).

As a respected figure in the Russian theater community, Shrayman served on the jury of the Golden Mask National Theater Award in 2002 and 2008. He continues to be a leading advocate for the development of puppetry in Russia and internationally, serving as the director of the All-Russian Laboratory of Puppet Theater Directors for the Union of Theater Workers of the Russian Federation.