Clown Andryusha changed dramatically two weeks before his death

In the arena – the clown Andryusha, in the world – the artist Andrei Nikolaev. He graduated from the State School of Circus and Variety Art. M.N. Rumyantsev (Pencil) and the directing department of GITIS, where he trained circus and pop artists until recently.

The image of Andryusha was born in the 60s, when a playful mischievous man in a beret with a carrot instead of a fabric pipka entered the arena. This Andryusha all the time got into ridiculous situations, the reactions to which he had were pure, like children. Therefore, both children and adults loved him.

He was 85, and he finished working just before the pandemic. They liked to invite him to Christmas circus programs, where he worked not only as a number, but went out with several reprises.

One of the last people who had time to talk to him was Yuri Khalyavin, an employee of the Russian State Circus. It was he who told the MK columnist about the last days of the artist.

– I called him because the Russian State Circus decided to nominate him for the award, which is presented once a year by the Artist Foundation of Yevgeny Mironov. It is usually awarded to theater actors, but since last year, circus actors have also received the Charlie Chaplin statuette. So we nominated Andrey Nikolaevich.

I called him and heard some painful voice, he spoke slowly. I asked what happened, he said, “I’m just really tired.” Nevertheless, he sent a questionnaire with his track record. It was on a Saturday, and when I next dialed the number, no one answered. And after some time, a text message came: “please do not disturb, if necessary, I will contact you.” Who wrote it – whether it was himself or someone for him, I do not know.

– Yuri Yuryevich, did the artist live alone? Still, the elderly need care.

He lived alone, but was completely independent. They called him all the time, students came, two clowns, whom he raised at GITIS. I called him often. Two weeks ago, it was impossible to interrupt him in a conversation, he was active, which is why I was surprised when he barely spoke on Saturday.

– When was the last time he went to the arena?

— It was shortly before the pandemic, in the fall of 2019, when the 100th anniversary of Russian state circuses was celebrated at the Nikulin Circus. All our old clowns came there – Marchevsky, Maykhrovsky, Kuklachev. And Nikolaev was also. He loved to perform in Amsterdam at the Carre Circus Theatre. He had an amazing number: he went out in a tuxedo, like a gentleman, began to sing and gradually, in front of the audience, who did not understand how he was doing it, he turned a civilian suit into a clown one. Imperceptibly, black strict trousers turned into cropped trousers, a shirt-front disappeared somewhere, and a few minutes later the clown Andryusha stood in front of the audience. There was no end to the applause – this is how the miraculous transformation was appreciated.

He’s the first clown in my life, whom I saw as a child. It was in Kharkov, a circus was opened there, and the clown Andrey worked in the first program. And I memorized it. He was already unique then, and when he came up with his Andryusha, it was already impossible to forget him.

He was a very versatile artist and person: he sang, directed, taught. Not just a craftsman, but a great personality.

– As you know, clowns are people with very difficult characters, outside the arena they are generally gloomy.

– It’s true, here Andrey Nikolayevich is no exception – his character was not easy. But it was very interesting to talk to him. And then he was a very direct person. He said what he thinks, did not play around, did not avoid problems.

– Did any of your foreign colleagues respond to the death of Andrei Nikolaev?

– The circus is a single world that is not divided into friendly and unfriendly people. I know that telegrams are already coming to the Russian State Circus – they know about the loss abroad. And his disciples are probably crying, even those who are not in the country now. After all, he taught Pugachev, and Sergei Dityatev, Alexander Buinov … I’m afraid not to name someone – people are offended.

– On the Internet you can find shooting programs where the clown Andryusha participated. Is this the only thing he left us?

– For the last two years Andrei Nikolaevich has been writing a book. About my life, about how difficult it is to be a clown. I know for sure that he finished writing it, but did not have time. How did he not have time to receive his prize, for which we nominated him. I really hope this book gets published.

– Since the clown has not served anywhere, where will the farewell to him be?

– It has already been decided: on Friday, August 18, at 10 am there will be a farewell at the Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. And they will bury him, as he wanted, in the grave of his son, whom he lost in 2007. The son died of cancer. By the will of Andrei Nikolaevich, he will be buried in the grave of his son at the Danilovsky cemetery.

Unfortunately, now all the clowns are in Vladivostok at the Road to the Circus festival. Due to the time difference, it was not possible to get through to anyone. But the director Tereza Durova, who worked for 20 years in the circus, remembered that she crossed paths with Andrei Nikolaev both on tour and in the Union State Circus.

– Andrey was very devoted to the circus, to his destiny and lived only for this. I want to say that he went to the arena alone, and the solo clown is probably the most difficult thing. No partners, no one nearby – the artist can only rely on himself. And that was his image, his destiny. He had a reputation for being an intellectual, which is rare among clowns. I had the feeling that he was always learning something, reading something.