Nikolai Pavlovich Akimov was a Soviet theatre designer and director, teacher, and book illustrator. He recieved his artistic education at VKhUTEMAS, and worked as a scenery and costume designer for a number of Leningrad theatres. In 1932, at the Evg. Vakhtangov State Theatre, he staged his first production as a director ("Hamlet"). From 1935 Nikolai Akimov headed the Leningrad Comedy Theatre. Among his best-known productions are "The Shadow" and "The Dragon" by Evgeny Schwartz, as well as stagings of plays by William Shakespeare, Lope de Vega, and Richard Sheridan. He also designed his own posters, worked in film industry, and taught at the Leningrad State Institute of Theatre, Music and Cinematography (LGITMiK). Materials related to Nikolai Akimov’s work, including posters, costume designs, and photographs, are held at the Bakhrushin Theatre Museum.