Nikolay Barabanov

Nikolay Barabanov (9th/21st of April 1890, Penza Governorate, Russian Empire – 5th of November 1970,  Riga, Latvian SSR) – an actor of the Riga Russian Drama Theatre from 1921 to 1970.

N. Barabanov started his career as an actor already at the beginning of 1900s. He was performing in different theatres. In 1913 he finished Moscow Philharmonic School and began to work at K. Mardzhanov's Moscow Free Theatre.

In 1916–1918 Barabanov had been performing at Emperor Alexander theatre in Petrograd. This period proved to be fruitful, full of innovative approach and original scenic achievements. At that time Barabanov was cooperating with famous V. Meyerhold, as well as was performing in various theatres of Petrograd, Moscow and Kharkov. In 1920s N. Barabanov was invited to work at Riga Russian Drama theatre.

At the beginning of 1930s N. Barabanov started pedagogical activities and became a supervisor of a theatre studio with a special curriculum including such courses as diction, eloquence and logical reading.

After the World War II N. Barabanov's artistic talent was again in high demand. In 1955 he was given the title of People's actor of the Latvian Soviet Republic.

He preffered to play classical roles based on the works of famous Russian and foreign authors (F. Dostoevsky, W. Shakespeare, A. Pushkin, M. Gorky).