Playwright Viktor Shvemberger

Dramatist V. Shvemberger was born on October 23, 1892—January 23, 1970, in the city of Stavropol in a family of a military provisioner-pharmacist. His childhood and youth were spent in Pyatigorsk. In 1910, he graduated from accounting courses in Rostov-on-Don. In 1912, he moved to Moscow. In 1916, he entered the drama studio of F. Komissarzhevskaya, and later transferred to O. Gunsta's studio, where he worked under the guidance of E. Vakhtangov. From November 1917, while continuing his studies at the studio, he managed the office of the Narcomzem publishing house. At the end of 1918, he volunteered to join the ranks of the Red Army, fighting against the White Guards in Ukraine. In
1922, after returning to Moscow, he worked in the studio of the E. Vakhtangov Theater. From 1923, he created a puppet theater and worked on the repertoire for this theater.

In 1930, the "Children's Book Theater" of Gosizdat was established, which was later renamed the I Moscow Puppet Theater, where he worked as a dramatist and director. From 1934 to 1941, he headed the Moscow Regional Puppet Theater. During the Great Patriotic War,
V. Shvemberger worked in a hospital in the Moscow region. In 1945, he was invited to Frunze to create a republican puppet theater, where he worked as artistic director for 12 years. In 1947, V. Shvemberger organized a national Kyrgyz group of puppeteers and created an original repertoire for it, based on Kyrgyz fairy-tale folklore.

During his time in theaters, he wrote over 30 plays, 4 methodological books on puppet theater, and many articles about this theater. His plays were performed in theaters in many cities across our country. V. Shvemberger translated works by K. Eshmambetov and Kyrgyz folk tales into Kyrgyz.

Honored Artist of the Kyrgyz SSR (1948).

Member of the Union of Soviet Writers since 1948.

Awarded the Order of the "Badge of Honor," and Honorary Certificates from the Supreme Council of the Kyrgyz SSR.

SEPARATE PUBLICATIONS

In Russian:
Plays for Puppet Theater. —F.: Kyrgyzuchpedgiz, 1958. —102 p.

TRANSLATIONS

The Good Livestock Breeder Adyl: A Story for Younger School Age Children. —F.: Kyrgyzuchpedgiz, 1958. —19 p. '
The Four Smallest: Based on Kyrgyz Folk Tales. —F.: Kyrgyzuchpedgiz, 1958. —27 p.