FINAL STEP

FINAL STEP

Based on the novel of the same name by Yordan Slaveykov

Stage adaptation and direction:

Yordan Slaveykov

Set design:

Teodor Kyriakov

Costume design:

Nicole Trendafilova

Composer:

Hristo Namliev

Light Designer:

Daniel Martinov Yovkov

CAST:

Veselin Mezekliev, Velislav Pavlov, Vyara Tabakova, Eva Tepavicharova, Yordan Varbanov

The scattered members of a family reunite on the border between life and death, at the edge of reality and delirium, to finally say to each other all that has been left unsaid over the years. And to try to seek and offer forgiveness. For the first time, they voice painful secrets, harsh truths, and bleeding memories. They are all survivors—people who have found a way to rise and move forward after life’s brutal twists, leaving them with scars that will remain until the grave. But now, the time has come for reckoning. Once again, they face their darkest sins, their unfulfilled loves, and their unhealed wounds, in the hope of finding HOPE.

The performance is based on the repeatedly republished debut novel Final Step by Yordan Slaveykov (published by Janet 45). The novel was awarded the Silver Pegasus for Best Novel in the prose category at the Southern Spring competition in Haskovo in 2016 and received the Pencho’s Oak award, presented by Prof. Svetlozar Igov. It was also nominated for the Literary Club Peroto Award at the National Palace of Culture.

In 2025, Final Step is set to be published in German by Mauke and in Spanish by La tortuga Búlgara.

Yordan Slaveykov is a Bulgarian actor, director, writer, and educator. He graduated in Theatre Directing from NATFA in 2006 under Prof. Krikor Azaryan. In 2008, he specialized in acting at the International Summer Theatre School in Moscow. He is the co-author and co-director, alongside Dimitar Kasabov, of the play The Spider, for which he was nominated for the Askeer Award for dramaturgy.

His monodrama Victoria has been translated into Ukrainian, Serbian, Macedonian, Russian, and English. Victoria was staged in North Macedonia in 2021. Slaveykov directed the Bulgarian production of the play and received the Best Director Award at the SoloAct International Monodrama Festival 2024 in Gabrovo.

He also directed the documentary production Embryos (I AM STUDIO), based on his own concept and text. Among his other productions are Oscar and the Pink Lady (Vratsa Puppet Theatre), The Glass Menagerie and Constellations (Sfumato Theatre Workshop), Slingshot (I AM STUDIO), and others. He has also directed performances in Ukraine and Belarus.

Dramaturg:

Aneliya Yaneva

Assistant Director:

Boryana Miteva

Design of the poster:

Yanina Petrova

Photographer:

Stefan Zdraveski

Premiere: April 16 and 17, 2025