Vitaliy Nikolayevich Ivanov is a stage director, Honored Artist of Russia. He was born on July 23, 1941. Ivanov graduated from the department of directing of the Russian University of Theatre Arts (GITIS) (workshop of the legendary M.O. Knebel), and since 1969 he has been working at the Maly Theatre. During this period Vitaliy Ivanov staged over two dozen performances, including «Woe from Wit» by Alexander Griboedov, «Conversations Under the Clear Moon» by Vasily Shukshin, «Kasatka» (Darling) by Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy, « The Stone Flower» by Pavel Bazhov, «The Minor» by Denis Fonvizin, «Prince Serebrenni» by Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy, «Wolves and Sheep» by Alexander Ostrovsky, «The Snow Queen» by Evgeny Schwartz, «Money to Burn» by Alexander Ostrovsky, «The Tale of Tsar Saltan» by Alexander Pushkin, «Love's Labour's Lost» by William Shakespeare, «Wedding! Wedding! Wedding!» by Anton Chekhov, «Maria Stuart» by Friedrich Schiller, «Vanyushin’s Children» by Sergei Naidenov, «Cinderella» by Evgeny Schwartz, «Christmas Comes but Once a Year»( It's Not All Shrovetide for the Cat) by Alexander Ostrovsky.

Vitaliy Ivanov’s productions earn big and well-deserved success and win praise from audiences and critics. «The Minor» and «Wolves and Sheep» are among the theatre’s long-life productions that are as popular on the home stage as on tours. «The Snow Queen» that premiered in 1995, ranks among best children's shows in Moscow.

Literary material that Ivanov uses as the basis for his productions is rather diverse and includes plays, stories, novels, fairy tales, and screenplays. He made dramatizations for the following plays: «Conversations Under the Clear Moon», «Prince Serebrenni», «The Snow Queen», «The Tale of Tsar Saltan», «Cinderella».

Stars of the Maly Theatre’s stage played one of their best roles in Ivanov’s productions: Yaroslav Baryshev (as Ivan the Terrible in «Prince Serebrenni» by Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy), Lyudmila Polyakova (as Murzovetskaya in «Wolves and Sheep» by Alexander Ostrovsky), Boris Nevzorov (as Vanyushin in «Vanyushin’s Children» by Sergei Naidenov).

Ivanov’s productions play all over the country. One of his most successful co-operations was with the Penza Regional Drama Theater of A.V. Lunacharskiy, where in 1995 he staged «Wolves and Sheep»by Alexander Ostrovsky that was later followed by «Kasatka» (Darling) by Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy, «Money to Burn» by Alexander Ostrovsky, «Memorial Prayer» by Grigori Gorin, «Uncle's Dream» by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, «Trees Die Standing Tall» by Alejandro Casona, «Enough Stupidity in Every Wise Man» by Alexander Ostrovsky.

«Memorial Prayer» with the magnificent Mikhail Kaplan in the role of Tevier went on tour to Moscow three times, it was shown twice on Maly Theatre’s Ordynka stage. Ivanov also staged performances in Ivanovo Regional Drama Theater («The Savage» by Alejandro Casona), Vladimir Academic Drama Theater («Money to Burn» by Alexander Ostrovsky), Saratov Kiselev Youth Theater («Wolves and Sheep» by Alexander Ostrovsky).

For over 20 years - since 1996 - Ivanov has been teaching acting at Mikhail Shchepkin Higher Theatre School (Institute), since 1998 he has been the artistic director of the course. Moreover, Ivanov superintends the work of the graduate students. Among his students are famous theatrical and film actors and actresses: Elena Velikanova, Vladimir Zherebtsov, Elena Lyadova, Timofey Tribuntsev, Alla Yuganova and others.

In addition to working in the theatre, Ivanov is known as a prominent film director. Among his works are two movies from the famous trilogy about the local police officer Aniskin – «Aniskin and Fantomas», «And yet again Aniskin» that he filmed in collaboration with Mikhail Zharov.

Vitaliy Ivanov and Vladimir Beylis coauthored a book entitled «Dialogues and Monologues. Profession: director» that was published in 2009.

Performances staged at the Maly Theatre:


1969 «The Man and the Globe» byViktor Lavrentiev (together with Vladimir Beylis)

1970 «The Engineer» by Elena Kaplinskaya (together with Vladimir Beylis)

1973 «Kasatka» (Darling) by Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy

1975 «Woe from Wit» by Alexander Griboedov. Managing director of the production is Mikhail Tsaryov

1976 «Conversations Under the Clear Moon» a stage version inspired by Vasily Shukshin’s stories in two parts.

1977 «The Guilt» by Alexander Kurgatnikov

1980 «The Stone Flower» a stage version in 2 parts by V. Alekseev based upon Ural's fairy tales by Pavel Bazhov

1986 «The Minor» by Denis Fonvizin

1990 «Prince Serebrenni» by Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy

1994 «Wolves and Sheep» by Alexander Ostrovsky

1995 «The Snow Queen» by Evgeny Schwartz

1998 «Money to Burn» by Alexander Ostrovsky

1999 «The Tale of Tsar Saltan» a fairy tale by Alexander Pushkin in two parts

2002 «Love's Labour's Lost» by William Shakespeare

2004 «Wedding! Wedding! Wedding!» by Anton Chekhov

2006 «Maria Stuart» by Friedrich Schiller

2008 «Kasatka» (Darling) by Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy

2012 «Vanyushin’s Children» by Sergei Naidenov

2014 «Cinderella» by Evgeny Schwartz

2016 «Christmas Comes but Once a Year»( It's Not All Shrovetide for the Cat) by Alexander Ostrovsky