THE PETROVS IN AND AROUND THE FLU

THE PETROVS IN AND AROUND THE FLU

Based on Alexey Salnikov

DIRECTOR:

Boyan Kracholov

SET DESIGN AND COSTUMES:

Michaela Dobreva

COMPOSER:

Georgi Atanasov

DRAMATURG OF THE PERFORMANCE:

PhD Svetlana Pancheva

TRANSLATION FROM RUSSIAN:

Boryana Darakchieva

Alexei Salnikov’s novel "The Petrovs in and Around the Flu" caused a sensation in Russia in 2016, and a year later won the "NOS" Critics' Prize and the National Bestseller Award. The likelihood that the stage version and director Boyan Kracholov's production will cause a sensation is just as high. The seasonal influenza virus, which is the "motor" in the action of the performance, not only changes the optics of our everyday life, but also shows that nothing is what we think it is, and we should not jump to conclusions about the people around us, nor about events, nor life. It is equally so because the characters in this fantasy adventure between real life, dreaming and visions prove that average people don't exist, that the life and day-to-day existence of a man who considers himself insignificant and whom no one calls by his first name, a man with a dull and ordinary job, is full of wonders, with skeletons in the closet – a life funny, scary, majestic, mysterious, harrowing.

PROMENADE THEATRE

Promenade theatre is a type of theatre in which the audience is not seated in the auditorium but moves around to reach the locations of the individual stages. Such a theatre implies a certain level of interactivity on the part of the spectators since in most cases there are no indicated seats where they can position themselves – they have much more freedom in their transitions, in choosing their point of view, in shortening the distance with the actors, even with their presence in the individual scenes. This theatrical experience also implies a willingness on the part of the viewers to let themselves be led by the actors as well as to communicate with them.

In most cases, promenade theatre has elements of site-specific or immersive theatre practices. Site-specific performances are made concerning what is given, the architecture, and the particularities of a given space, striving to make the most of them. Immersive ones, on the other hand, aim at fully immersing the spectator in the theatrical occurrence – by allowing them to interact with certain elements of the performance.

"Don't look for a plot. Mind your way... Don't linger. Let the actors lead you. And don't worry about the characters - you'll recognize them. Don't get lost. The theatre can be quite a terrifying place".

So, be sure to wear comfortable shoes and have your overcoat close at hand. 

Icarus 2024 Award for Directing for Boyan Kracholov

Icarus 2024 Award for Supporting Actress of Alexandra Vasileva for the roles of the Librarian, Nurse and Persephone

Nomination for the Icarus Award 2024 Supporting Male Role of Nencho Kostov in the role of Sergey

Nomination for the Icarus 2024 Award for Masterful Technical Implementation

Nomination for the ASKEER Award 2024 for Supporting Actress of Alexandra Vasileva for the roles of the Librarian, Nurse and Persephone

ASKEER Award 2024 for Supporting Male Role of Ivan Nikolov for the roles of Igor, Leonardo and the Publisher 

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR:

Olga Nedyalkova

POSTER DESIGN:

Nikolay Dimitrov NAD 

Program design:

Yanina Petrova

Photographer:

Stefan N. Shterev

Premiere: 15th and 18th of June 2023