International Theatre Festival "SHKOLA"
The International Theatre Festival „SHKOLA“ is back in Pleven with an inspiring programme in 2025!
For the second consecutive year, Pleven will become the stage for one of the most meaningful cultural events in the country – the International Theatre Festival „SHKOLA“. From 23 to 30 June 2025, the residents and guests of the city will have the opportunity to experience contemporary theatrical forms from various countries, to watch inspiring performances and to take part in a rich educational programme, led by distinguished names from the theatre scene in Bulgaria and abroad.
On 23 June the „SHKOLA“ festival begins – an event that does not merely present theatre, but creates a living space for cultural dialogue and inspiration.
The festival, created with the mission of being a meeting between professionals, young artists and audiences, builds a community in which ideas, inspirations and experience are exchanged. That is why „SHKOLA“ stands out for its focus on the educational aspect – through workshops, lectures and seminars, young artists get the chance to build on their knowledge and develop their artistic identity.
The theme of the 2025 edition – „In Search of Identity“ – is a provocation to participants and viewers to look into themselves, into society and into the world around them. What does it mean to be yourself in a world where everything is changing? How are cultural, age and professional identities formed, collided and intertwined?
Programme of performances:
23.06 (Monday), 20:00 – „Oleanna“, "Ivan Radoev" Theatre
24.06 (Tuesday), 20:00 – „The Refugee’s Song“, MIHR Theatre Company
26.06 (Thursday), 20:00 – „Legend of Happiness“, Evgeni Ibragimov
27.06 (Friday), 20:00 – „The Tallest Tree on Earth“ (Chamber Stage)
28.06 (Saturday), 20:00 – „The Demon’s Sorrow“, Dialog Dance Company
29.06 (Sunday), 20:00 – „The Incident in the Town of Goga“, "Ivan Radoev" Theatre
30.06 (Monday), 19:00 – „Medea“, „Ivan Vazov“ National Theatre
Educational programme:
Workshop with Snezhina Petrova – „The Soul of the Role – Metaphor or Reality“
Module with Dr Desislava Stoycheva – „Artists as Managers of Art Projects“
Physical theatre with MIHR Theatre (Armenia) – “Speaking with Bodies”
Workshop with Ivan Vyrypaev – „What Is a Play?“
Practices from rehearsals with Tiit Ojasoo (Estonia)
Theatre module with Yuri Butusov – „Let Us Start Talking, and Then We Shall See“
Workshop on bodily authenticity with Ivan Estegneev and the Dialog Dance Company
Workshop with Assoc. Prof. Dr Stiliyan Petrov and Prof. Lyudmil Dimitrov - „Identity and Self-Knowledge, or Who Is Who in the Character System of Chekhov’s Plays“
„SHKOLA“ shows that art is not a frozen form, but a living process of searching, questions and new answers. A festival that does not merely present performances, but creates a space for conscious communication through theatre.
TICKETS
READ MORE AT https://classfestival.com/en/