Shapiro Adolf Yakovlevich (1939)

Shapiro Adolf Yakovlevich (1939, Kharkiv) — director. In 1962, graduated from the directing faculty of the Kharkiv Theatre Institute. From 1962, was a director; in 1964–92 — chief director of the Riga Youth Theatre (Riga Theatre for Young People), staging productions with both Russian and Latvian companies. In the Russian company, staged “The Shadow” by E.L. Shvarts (1964), “Chukokkala” after K.I. Chukovsky (1970), “Brother Alyosha” after F.M. Dostoevsky (1973), “The Adventures of Pinocchio in the Land of Fools” after A.N. Tolstoy (1975), “Pushkin's Fairy Tales” (1976), “Romeo and Juliet” by W. Shakespeare (1977), “Prince Friedrich von Homburg” by H. von Kleist (1980, first performance in Russian), “Tomorrow Was the War” after B.L. Vasilyev (1986), “Democracy!” by J.A. Brodsky (1991) and others. In the Latvian company, staged “The Golden Steed” by J. Rainis (1977), “Fear and Misery of the Third Reich” by B. Brecht (1986), plays by G.R. Priede and others. Productions at other theatres include “The Cherry Orchard,” “Three Sisters” by A.P. Chekhov (1971, 1973, V. Kingissepp Drama Theatre, Tallinn), “Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” by E. Albee (1977, Pärnu Drama Theatre), “Molière” by M.A. Bulgakov (1978, A. Upīts Academic Theatre), “The Piglet” by V.S. Rozov (1987, Vakhtangov Theatre), “Molière” (“Cabal of Hypocrites”) by Bulgakov (1989, MKhAT), “The Loving Liar” by J. Kilty (1994, Vakhtangov Theatre), “The Last Ones” by M. Gorky (1995, O.P. Tabakov's Theatre-Studio). In 1990–93 — president of ASSITEJ (International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People); from 1993 — president of the Russian ASSITEJ Centre.

In 1992, a contract was signed reorganising the Riga Youth Theatre; in Riga only one theatre performing in Russian remained, the Russian Drama Theatre, and Sh. was forced to leave Latvia for Russia, for St Petersburg. Worked at various Russian theatres. In 1998, Sh.'s production “Bumbarash” at the Samara Youth Theatre was nominated for the All-Russian theatre festival “Golden Mask” and awarded a prize in the category “Best Designer's Work.” People's Artist of the Latvian SSR (1986); laureate of the State Prize of the Latvian SSR (1985).

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