Theatre history
Drama and Puppet Theatre „Ivan Radoev“
The Drama and Puppet Theatre „Ivan Radoev“ is one of the oldest professional theatres in Bulgaria – its 100th season was celebrated in 2018/2019. The theatre is a state institution with mixed funding from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Municipality of Pleven. It has its own company of more than 40 actors, and over 100 people work at the theatre. Its director is Dimitar Kabakov, who succeeded Vasil Vasilev.
It has existed as a professional theatre since 1919. In 1998 a puppet department was opened, continuing the traditions of the former Pleven State Puppet Theatre. The building that houses the Pleven company was built at the end of the 19th century. It has 5 stages: the Main Stage, the Chamber Stage, the „Foyer“ Stage and the „Grand Foyer“ Stage, and since 2021 the open-air „Terrace“ Stage.
In terms of genre the theatre is wide-ranging – staging everything from classical drama to contemporary playwriting. Each year it creates over 10 new productions and gives around 200 performances.
The Pleven City Theatre was founded on an idea by the actor and playwright Aleksandar Gyurov. On 22 December 1918 a Civic Assembly was convened to establish the Pleven City Theatre, and on 6 February 1919 the first premiere was performed – „Kean“ by Alexandre Dumas fils, directed by Vladimir Nikolov. Aleksandar Gyurov was director during the first 5 years of the newly founded theatre, where in the following years he shared the stage with the brightest talents of his time – Vera Ignatieva, Krastyo Sarafov, Georgi Stamatov and others.
The premiere of the theatre’s first production for children took place in 1938 – the title was „Dinko the Lazybones“.
From its founding the theatre has striven for professionalism and the development of a strong and varied repertoire. Before it was nationalised in 1946 it staged „The Robbers“ by Schiller, „Golemanov“ by St. L. Kostov, „Henry IV“ by William Shakespeare, „Marius“ by Marcel Pagnol, „Crime and Punishment“ after Dostoevsky, „Poverty Is No Vice“ by Ostrovsky and others.
As the Pleven People’s Theatre it staged many Bulgarian and foreign classics – drama by Victor Hugo, Boyan Bolgar, Ivan Peychev and Nikolay Haytov – and the repertoire also included productions such as „The Curious Savage“ by John Patrick, „Desire Under the Elms“ by Eugene O’Neill and „Everything in the Garden“ by Edward Albee.
Today the „Ivan Radoev“ Drama and Puppet Theatre is a significant cultural institution not only for Pleven but for the whole country, reflected in its achievements at local, national and international level. It performs productions for every age – drama, solo performances and puppet shows for children and adults. Its programme features both Bulgarian and world classics.
Every two years the „Ivan Radoev“ Competition for New Bulgarian Playwriting is held, and the winning plays are staged in Pleven. Since 2018, every June, the „Shareno Petle“ puppet festival is organised with the participation of Bulgarian and international artists.
The „Ivan Radoev“ Drama and Puppet Theatre invites renowned and acclaimed directors – Bulgarian and foreign – as well as established and promising Bulgarian actors, and it often opens the way for young people in the art of theatre.
Alongside the Pleven actors, famous names such as Nikolay Bilalov, Vladimir Karamazov, Maya Bezhanska, Lyubo Neykov, Deyan Donkov, Alek Aleksiev, Stoyan Doychev, Svetla Yancheva, Stanka Kalcheva and others perform under the direction of acclaimed directors. The appearances, nominations and awards of the „Ivan Radoev“ Theatre are numerous.
In the last two theatre seasons alone (2021–2022–2023) the hit plays „The Tail“ and „Antigone“ received „Askeer“ awards and several nominations for the „Ikar“ awards.