Vazov’s People

Vazov’s People

by Alexander Sekulov

Directed by:

Diana Dobreva

Set & Costume Design:

Mira Kalanova

Composer:

Petia Dimanova

Featuring:

Julian Vergov, Vladimir Penev, Valentin Ganev, Valeri Yordanov, Zafir Radjab, Lyubomir Petkashev, Stoyan Pepelanov, Stefan Kushev, Dimitar Nikolov, Vasil Draganov, Pavlin Petrunov, Stelian Radev, Plamen Dimov, Konstantin Elenkov, Yavor Valkanov, Joreta Nikolova, Eva Tepavicharova , Bilyana Petrinska, Alexandra Vasileva, Paraskeva Dzhukelova, Milena Atanasova, Albena Stavreva, Irina Miteva/Slavena Kerezova and Volena Apostolova

Child actors:

Rada Lukanova

Bulgarian people border Vazov on all sides. He has given names to everything in Bulgariandom. This is why, down through the centuries, our mountains shall always be as ‘high and blue’ as ever, our deceased shall ‘join another regiment’, our ‘beloved motherland’ shall always be ‘so beautiful’, his ‘lyrics shall always be read’, ‘the language of our forefathers’ shall always be ‘sacred’, our mothers shall always ‘give birth to us twice’. His words provide an anchor for us in a world that relishes the cancelling of God, motherland, and family, a world of volatile souls, without a belief in our historical existence. Through Vazov’s words, we come to understand ourselves: what we don’t know ourselves to be, what we find difficult to come to terms with in ourselves, and what we do not believe we are. This is why the question Where Is Bulgaria is not a matter of geography, but rather of being.

Alexander Sekulov

Our work on this production faced a special challenge due to its scale. Theatres rarely take to military conflicts, national catastrophes, or ethnic disasters owing to the specifics of the theatrical techniques and devices, let alone to epic stories, where not only individuals, but also entire social and cultural strata exist, move, and interact. And this movement is immersed in a particular historical moment, over which arguments rage on even a hundred years later. Still, our inner duty to present Ivan Vazov as an ever-living image, to look at us through his eyes, to stand silent once again in awe of his power to outline our fate as a nation, came above all else.

Diana Dobreva

ASKEER AWARD 2022 FOR CONTEMPORARY BULGARIAN DRAMATURGY BY ALEXANDER SEKULOV

ASKEER AWARD 2022 FOR SUPPORTING MALE ROLE FOR YULIAN VERGOV FOR THE ROLE OF IVAN VAZOV

NOMINATION FOR ASKEER AWARD 2022 FOR SUPPORTING FEMALE ROLE FOR ALEXANDRA VASILEVA FOR THE ROLE OF MUNCHO

Dramaturg of the performance:

PhD Svetlana Pancheva

Assistant Director:

Olga Nedialkova

Poster & Leaflet Designer:

Yanina Petrova

Photographer:

Guergana Damianova

Premiere: 7th and 8th of October 2021