PARSHIN Sergei Ivanovich
People’s Artist of Russia, laureate of the State Award
(Born May 28, 1952)

In 1973 Sergei Parshin graduated from the Leningrad State Institute of Theatre, Music, and Cinematography named after N.K. Cherkasov. For the first time Sergei came onto the stage of the Alexandrinsky Theatre then still a student(Studio of Vasily Merkuriev and Irina Meyerhold). All students of that year were involved in the performance The Last Victim written by A. Ostrovsky. After graduation from the Institute, the young actor was invited to the Alexandrinsky Theatre Company; he played small parts in the Soviet drama and Russian classic repertoire during his first seasons.     

His role of Truffaldino in the Gozzi`s Green Bird directed by N. Sheiko became one of the first really bright and successful parts. In the funny performance, staged in the traditions of Italian comedia dell`arte, Sergei Parshin claimed to be a brilliant comedy actor with an outstanding talent of improvisation.  

In the 30 years of work at the Alexandrinsky Theatre, Sergei Parshin has played over 70 parts.

Among his characters in the 1990s there were: Platonov (Platonov, A. Chekhov, 1994), Andrey Prozorov (The Three Sisters, A. Chekhov, 1996), Kochkarev (The Marriage, N. Gogol, 1998), lord Windermere (Lady Windermere’s Fan, Oscar Wilde, 1998), Vasily Shuisky (Boris Godunov, 1999), Savva Lubezny (Orintology, A. Stroganov, 1999), Sganarel (Don Juan, Molière, 2000).

Undoubtedly, his creative luck came to the actor with the part of the Governor in the performance The Inspector General directed by Valery Fokin (2002). This role made Sergei Parshin a prize winner of St. Petersburg's highest theatrical award, the Golden Soffit, and the State Award of  the Russian Federation (2003). In 2005, Sergei Parshin played the part of Dr. Rank in Ibsen’s drama Nora.   

The role of Fedor Protasov in L.Tolstoy’s The Living Corps (Director Valery Fokin, 2006) became a serious actor’s work.  Presently, his repertoire includes the role of Sergeant Charles Fairchild in B. Brecht’s performance Man Equals Man (Director Yury Butusov, 2008); the role of Saltykov in the performance Ksenia. The History of Love by V. Levanov (Director Valery Fokin, 2009); the role of Ivan Voinitsky (Uncle Vanya by A. Chekhov, Director A. Serban, 2009). Theater critic Andrey Pronin wrote about the latter: “Looks like Sergey Parshin has played his best role.  It is hard to recollect another performance where the protagonist of this Chekhov’s play would be as touching and sympathetic.  Ivan Voinitsky in Serban’s performance is a poor play-actor, but he is the only one who is not playing with other people’s fates…  Sergey Parshin’s character, despite all his melancholy, is full of inner force – soft and attractive.  Other characters do not possess the force of the kind…” Kommersant, 15.09. 2009). Right after the role of Voinitsky, the actor played Taxi Man Nickolay in Andrey Moguchy’s performance Izotov by M. Durnenkov (2009).

Professional ethics has always been the major criterion for Sergey Parshin in his relations with colleagues.  This is exactly why his judgments and evaluation of one or another in-theater situation is always important and respected.  Since 2005, Parshin is President of the Alexandrinsky Charitable Foundation; since 2008, he is Chairman of the St. Petersburg Department of the Union of Theater Workers of Russia. In 2006, Sergey Parshin was awarded with the ORDER OF HONOR (Verdict of the President of the Russian Federation #392 as of April 17, 2006).

Sergei Parshin is the Head of the St. Petersburg Department of Theatre Workers Union of the Russian Federation.

Since 2005 he has been president of the Alexandrinsky Charitable Foundation.

In 2010, he was introduced to D. Keyes’s “Flowers for Charlie” as Assistant to Doctor Strauss (Director I. Sakayev).