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BIOGRAPHY
"ZYKOV, Nikolai - Russian actor, producer, artist, master of puppetry", Encyclopedia "Puppets", Boris Goldovskiy, page 171.
Nikolai Zykov was born in 1965 in Moscow in a family of engineers, whose life was not related to art. He is the son of Viktor Zykov, who is a scientist-physics, inventor, and Candidate of Sciences, and Tatiana Zykova (née Smyslova), who is an engineer-technologist and teacher.
When Nikolai Zykov was five years old, his parents took him to the Puppet Theatre of Sergey Obraztsov, who is the great grand-uncle of Nikolai Zykov.
After the show, Nikolai Zykov created his own theatre in his house and presented puppet performances for his parents and his younger sister. He usually did not make puppets by himself. Instead, he took details of toys and inter-connected them with wire.
Education:
1972-1982: Primary and Secondary School (compulsory general education)
1972-1973: Moscow Boys Choir (fortepiano, choir, solfeggio)
1974-1979: Moscow Music School (fortepiano, vocal, solfeggio, music literature, music composition)
1977-1983: Arcady Kovtun Puppet Studio (drawing, puppet construction, puppet making, puppet performing)
1980-1982: Tatiana Kakovkina Drama Studio (acting, poetry declamation, stage moving)
1982-1988: Moscow Aviation Institute - State University of Aerospace Technology (construction and design of electro-mechanic systems) . Received his Master of Science degree.
Nikolai Zykov began making puppets for his performances in 1977.
In 1980, Nikolai Zykov made his first puppet vignette.
In 1985, he created his first solo puppet performance and founded his own professional Nikolai Zykov Theatre.
Nikolai Zykov has created over 80 puppet vignettes, which include marionettes, hand, rod, giant, radio-controlled and experimental puppets of unusual construction.
Nikolai Zykov constantly developed the technology and has created many new construction and technological innovations. Some of the more innovative designs include:
new not-wood constructions of marionettes (new constructions reduced the weight of marionette in several times and opens new possibilities for this type of puppets) - puppet "Italian Singer"(1983) and others,
new original constructions of transformation of marionettes - vignette "Second birth"(1989) and others,
new fiberglass controls of marionettes (fiberglass control is extra light and it is practically "invisible" for spectators) - vignette "Funny Company"(1994) and others,
new original radio-controlled puppets - vignette "Spider"(2000) and others,
new original constructions of double rod puppets with free moving in all directions (free double rods puppets) - vignette "Electric snake"(2000) and others,
new original constructions for flying puppets above the spectators (flying above spectators marionettes) - vignette "Microcosmos"(2002) and others.
new original constructions of horizontal marionettes with only a on-flour strings (self-standing horizontal marionettes) - vignette "Garbage cans"(2009) and others,
Nikolai Zykov is an author of over 20 puppet performances. These performances include: "Nikolai Zykov presents his puppets" (1985), "From Prehistoric Man to Aliens" (1989), "The Magic World of Marionettes" (1993), "Dinosaur and his company" (1998), "Cabaret of Metamorphoses" (2000), "Giant and others" (2003), "Puppet Benefice" (2003), "Exclusive Marionettes" (2006), "Other puppets" (2008).
Nikolai Zykov has been a member of Russian Authors Organization since 1997.
Puppets of Nikolai Zykov took part in many popular television shows in USSR, Russia and abroad. In 1994-1995, Nikolai Zykov hosted the children's television show, "Everyday is holiday" on Russian State Television. In 2000 Culture TV Channel calls Nikolai Zykov "the most titled puppeteer of Russia".
Nikolai Zykov has received the diplomas of several competitions and festivals in Russia. Also, he has received the Gold Medal and the diploma of Laureate of the International Festival Arbeiterfestspiele in Germany (1984), the "Medal for Labour Valour" of Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union (Parliament of the USSR) for outstanding contribution in culture (1986), "Arts Innovation" award of the 12th China Shanghai International Arts Festival (2010).
Nikolai Zykov has performed in 35 countries around the world: in many cities of USSR and Russia and also in Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, United States, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.
List of the most famous theatres and concert halls hosted Nikolay Zykov Theatre
Tours of Nikolai Zykov since1980 to present
