Valentin Nikolaevich Pluchek

Valentin Nikolaevich Pluchek (real name – Isaac Nokhimovich Ginzburg) was a Soviet and Russian theatre director and actor, People's Artist of the USSR. He was born in Moscow on 22 August (4 September) 1909 into a Jewish family. He lost his father early, was unable to establish a relationship with his stepfather, befriended homeless children and as a result ended up in an orphanage.

 

In 1926 Pluchek enrolled in Meyerhold's State Theatrical Experimental Workshop in the acting faculty. In 1929 he transferred to the directing faculty of the same workshop and was accepted into the troupe of Meyerhold's State Theatre, where he debuted in Gogol's 'The Government Inspector'.

In 1932 Pluchek founded his own theatre – TRAM of Electricians. During the Great Patriotic War he headed the Northern Fleet Theatre and the traveling New Theatre. From 1950 Pluchek worked at the Moscow Satire Theatre, first as a freelance, then as a staff director, and from 1957 as chief director. In 1962 he wrote the book 'On Stage – Mayakovsky'. Valentin Nikolaevich Pluchek died in 2002 and was buried at Vagankovo Cemetery.