BULGARIAN THEATRE 1945–1989

This collection of studies offers analytical dissections of the theatre reality in Bulgaria during the communist period. They cover various aspects of the socio-cultural context in which theatre existed – cultural policies towards theatre, ideological censorship, theatre education, as well as the main components of the artistic process – playwriting, directing, acting and stage design. The focus is on dramatic theatre, but a separate study also traces the development of puppetry in the country. Without seeking a comprehensive and exhaustive historical account of theatre life during this period, the collection brings together the authors’ individual perspectives on the processes that took place in the field of theatre over four and a half decades. The individual studies attempt to trace the road traversed, outlining trajectories of artistic achievement, of changing generations and of the development of the theatre language, but also of broken traditions, of restrictions on freedom of expression and on aesthetic choices. Such is the contradictory nature of the reality in which Bulgarian theatre existed in the years between 1945 and 1989.

Editorial board: prof. Prof. Kamelia Nikolova, Prof. Nikolay Iordanov, Assoc. Prof. Rumyana Nikolova

Compiled and edited by Kamelia Nikolova and Nikolay Iordanov

Design: Venelin Shurelov

Front cover: Scene from Downhill by Finn Borath

Sofia, 2023

The project is supported by National Culture Fund under the programme Annual Grant 2022.