Nikolay Akimov

Nikolay Pavlovich Akimov ( – 6 September 1968) was a Soviet experimental theatre director and scenic designer noted for his work with the Leningrad Comedy Theatre. His most notorious production was the cynical version of Hamlet, with Ophelia as a drunken prostitute and the king's ghost as a clever mystification arranged by Hamlet. Akimov, who was the Comedy Theater director in 1935-1949 and 1956-1968, wrote several books, among them About Theater (О театре, 1962) and Not Just About Theater (Не только о театре, 1966), and was designated a People's Artist of the USSR in 1960.

Akimov was director of the New Theatre in Leningrad in the early 1950s.

The Saint Petersburg Comedy Theatre is named in his honour.

Awards and honours

Honoured Worker of the Arts Industry of the RSFSR (1939) People's Artist of the Tajik SSR (1944) People's Artist of the RSFSR (1945) People's Artist of the USSR (1960) Two Orders of the Red Banner of Labour (1939, 1961) Order of the Red Star Medal "For the Defence of Leningrad" Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" Medal "In Commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of Leningrad"