This year, Vladimir Filonov, artistic director of the SUSU Mannequin Theatre Studio, laureate of many theatre awards, teacher, director, and alumnus of the Chelyabinsk Polytechnic Institute, celebrated his 65th birthday anniversary. He kindly agreed to give interview to our SMART University newspaper.
Vladimir, how and why did you enrol at the Chelyabinsk Polytechnic Institute (CPI)? Why did you change your profession and decide to become a director?
“I entered the Instrumentation Engineering Faculty of the Chelyabinsk Polytechnic Institute right after school. I arrived in Chelyabinsk from Kurgan. First, my elder sister lived here, and second, I heard a lot of good reviews on the CPI.
I graduated receiving the speciality of a radio engineer. But during the fourth year of my studies, I saw an announcement to join the Maska Pantomime Studio at the Zheleznodorozhnikov Palace of Culture. The Studio was headed by Igor Ilyinsky. For some reason, I wanted to try myself in that, although I was not interested in that before, since I was fond of sports: hockey, football. And, suddenly, I wanted to engage in something unusual, as the pantomime seemed to be exotic. I joined the Studio, performed in various concerts, even at the Kremlin Palace of Congresses, at the meeting of Trade Unions. I got carried away by theatrical life. Then I came to the Mannequin Theatre Studio to Anatoly Morozov. For some time I worked simultaneously in both the Pantomime Studio and the Mannequin, and even helped to stage the Our Town production, one of Morozov’s last stage productions in the Mannequin. I graduated from the CPI and worked for a year at the Chelyabinsk Television Studio, but the interest in arts outweighed. I organized my own pantomime studio at the ChTZ Palace of Culture, which later became the Prospect Theatre. Due to the lack of knowledge I decided to study for a director at the Boris Shchukin Theatre School (now the Theatre Institute), where the Faculty of Directors of Folk and Amateur Theatre was organized. I studied, by the way, with Yuri Bobkov. He is also an alumnus of the CPI and, since 1992, started working as an artistic director of the Mannequin Theatre Studio, which in the same year became a municipal theatre instead of a student one. Back then, when the rector of the Shchukin School found out that we graduated from the Polytechnic Institute, he asked half-jokingly: 'Who do they train there at the Polytechnic Institute?' This is how my fate changed its trajectory, unexpectedly.”
For how long have you been working in our university?
“After graduating from the Shchukin School, I spent years to master and develop my skills of a director. Nearly half a century of my life, with some pauses, has been associated with the CPI (SUSU): here I studied, worked, and am working still. I brought together people at the Mannequin Theatre Studio, which in February 2021 will turn 25 years. It is interesting that in Chelyabinsk there are two Mannequin theatres, a municipal and a student one, and both were established and developed in our university. From 1996 and up to present, I have been heading the Mannequin Theatre Studio at South Ural State University. Besides, I also teach and conduct acting courses as a Professor of the Department of Theatre Arts at the Chelyabinsk State Institute of Culture and Arts, where I have been working for more than 20 years now.”
What events, awards related to work at our university are the most significant for you? Which are the most memorable ones?
“Over the years there have been so many notable events: one simply will get tired of recounting them. There are many awards since we participate in plenty of competitions and festivals, including all-Russian and international ones. In particular, in 2008 we won the Grand Prix of the Olkhon Festival on Lake Baikal. In 2009, our team won the Grand Prix of the Youth Theatres Festival in Moscow. We are especially proud having received the prizes for acting at a festival in Canada in 2003, the Grand Prix of the Youth Theatres Festival in Moscow. Probably this is one of the most significant achievements. It is no coincidence that the SUSU Mannequin Theatre Studio is considered one of the best student groups in Russia. But this status obliges us to maintain a high level of professional excellence throughout all the years of our existence.”
Did you have to overcome any obstacles on a professional path?
“Yes, sure. But all these years I have felt support from the leadership of SUSU. For example, as I said above, in 2003 we were invited to Canada to take part at the International Congress of Amateur Theatres to represent Russia. It was quite a costly pleasure. Gennadyi Mikhailov, the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs back then, provided assistance from the university, so we were able to go. We performed there really successfully. This was the first major trip abroad. SUSU also helped us to attend similar events in Sweden, Finland, Belgium, the Netherlands: the university sponsored with money and supported morally. That is, we could always rely on it. Or, for example, when a fire happened on the Studio premises. There was a turning point when the Mannequin could have been shut down. So, a meeting was held where Aleksandr Shestakov, Rector of the South Ural State University, entrusted us to continue the work of our student theatre. Many years have passed, but I always remember with gratitude those who helped: those, who came to clean out the premises, to help with paints, and money; because such moments cannot be forgotten. It means that people realized that they needed the theatre. And, as you can see, the Mannequin Theatre Studio lives and breathes with the help of those who care.”
Please, tell us about the traditions of your team.
“Traditionally, we celebrate the date of establishment of the Mannequin Theatre Studio on February 22nd. On the occasion of this date we organize a program and perform. The alumni of the Studio come together to celebrate.”
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From among your students, whom are you most proud of?
“Of course, there are so many of them, they work in theatres not only in Chelyabinsk, but also in Moscow and St. Petersburg. For example, Aleksey Zherebtsov, actor of the Lenkom Theatre, studied at the Mannequin Theatre Studio, enrolled at the Lenkom and now is one of the Likvid Theatre founders in Moscow. Kirill Vytoptov, the Mannequin alumnus, also became a director in Moscow. My students, Anna Rud and Maria Shashlova, also perform in the theatres inMoscow.”
How does self-isolation affect your creativity?
“I conduct classes online. Of course, rehearsing performances on the Internet is not very convenient, mildly speaking. But we still work in the theatre. We work with the students, analyze new plays and those that must be staged before their graduation. In addition, we have mastered the new “storytelling” methodology (we learn to tell stories). If everything goes according to plan, we will be holding a storytelling festival in November or December this year.”
Do you have any hobbies?
“Theatre has always been and still remains the main work and passion of my life.”