Distinguished Artist of Russia

Yelena Lipets graduated from the Leningrad State Theater of Music and Cinematography in 1983 and right after that started her work at the Leningrad Academy Drama Theater named after Pushkin.  Her coming to the theater could hardly be called incidental: she was a student of the distinguished master of the Alexandrinsky Stage Igor Gorbachev, and, still a student, she participated in the theater performances. 

Yelena Lipets could be rightfully called a bright character comedienne actress.  The role of Lipochka in the performance “Scratch My Back and I’ll Scratch Yours!” by A. Ostrovsky (Director Vladimir Golub) became one of the best roles of the actress.  This performance was honored with numerous awards at various competitions and festivals, among which was Lubov Orlova Prize  for the best female role with which Yelena Lipets was honored at the Russian Comedy Theater Festival (1999). 

The comedian talent of Yelena Lipets is multifaceted and often tends to display inner dramatics.  Her Charlotte (“The Cherry Orchard” by A. Chekhov, 2001, director Roman Smirnov) is remembered by public and critics exactly for the peculiar combination of the funny, almost grotesque features and the tragedy of an unaccomplished fate that had passed by.   Yelena Lipets’ role in August Strinberg’s trilogy “Who Is Stronger?” (1997) had also attracted close attention. The actress brilliantly impersonated her heroine Mari, a rival and strong opponent to August Strinberg.  

In the years of her work at the Alexandrinsky Theater, Yelena Lipets played about sixty roles.  Among them were Teresa and, later, Sylvia (“Father Goriot” by H. De Balzac, 1983 and 1985), Kurdyukova (”The Non-Weeping Willow” by M. Alekseyev, 1985), Felitsata (“Uncle’s Dream” by Fedor Dostoyevsky, 1987), Matchmaker (“Balzaminov’s Wedding” by A. Ostrovsky, 1988), Doris ("The Same Time Next Year” by B. Slade, 1988), Svetlana (“A Night in a Compartment” by V. Zverovshchikov, 1990),  Queeen (“Hamlet” by W. Shakespeare, director Rostislav Goryayev, 1992), Raisa (“Pictures of Moscow Life” by A. Ostrovsky, Director Vladimir Golub, 1993), Venera  (“Such a Strange Night,” 1993), Clara (“Simple Minded” by Lope de Vega, 1994), Priscilla (“The Vanishing Horse” by Francoise Sagan, Director Nora Reichshtein,   1995), Mopsa (“The Winter’s Tale” by W. Shakespeare, 1995), Dina (“The Comedy of Our Life” by N. Ptushkina, Director Vladimir Golub, 1997), Mrs. Pearce  (“Pygmallion” by B. Shaw, Director Alexander Belinsky, 1998), the Duchess of Berwick (“Lady Windermere’s Fan” by O. Wilde, Director Alexander Belinsky, 1998), Mummy (“Boris Godunov” by A. Pushkin, Director Arseny Sagalchik, 1999), Lebedinskaya (“A Pair of Chestnuts” by Alexander Belinsky, 2000), Step Mother (“The First Ball of Cinderella” by Ye. Schwarts, Director Nora Reichshtein, 2002), Chieftain Girl ( “No Luck for Those Afraid of Woes” by S. Marshak, Director Nora Reichshtein, 2002), Lyapkina-Tyapkina (“The Inspector General” by N. Gogol, Director Valery Fokin, 2003), Hortensia (“The Mistress of the Inn” by C. Goldoni, Director Vladimir Vorobiev, 2003),   Pamela ("Out of order or the Thirteenth Number” by Ray Kuni, Director Vladimir Golub, 2003).  

Presently, the actress’s repertoire also includes the role of Baokhin’s wife in the early Alexander Vampilov’s play The Crows Grove (Vampilov. Plays, Director Oleg Yeremin, 2009) and the ole of the Second Father Frost in Andrey Moguchy and K. Filippov’s performance “The Fortune” (Director Andrey Moguchy, 2011).  In the performance “Hedda Gabler” by H. Ibsen (Director K. Ginkas, 2011) she plays the role of Bertha, a servant at the house of Jorgen Tesman. In the 2011/2012 season, she was introduced in the role of Arina Panteleimonovna to N. Gogol’s “The Marriage” (Director Valery Fokin).

In 2004, Yelena Lipets was honored with the honorary title of Distinguished Artist of Russia (Verdict #340 of President of Russia V. Putin on awarding honorary titles to the workers of culture and arts as of 10.03.2004).