Ivan Vazov National Theatre

The Ivan Vazov National Theatre is the premier national cultural institution in the field of theatrical arts, situated in the absolute heart of the capital city of Sofia. The institution holds a central position in the country's cultural history, operating as the oldest, most authoritative, and highly representative Bulgarian theater. Chronology of the Company Names: The formal timeline of the National Theatre initiates with an official written decree issued by the Minister of National Enlightenment, Doctor Ivan Shishmanov. By this order, effective January 1, 1904, the manager of the state-supported National Dramatic Troupe Tears and Laughter (Salza i Smyah), Ilia Milarov, was appointed to the strategic position of Intendant. - Starting in the spring of the same year, 1904, the official name of the acting company was altered to the Bulgarian National Theatre. - During the historical period spanning from 1906 to 1951, the ensemble carried the concise title of the National Theatre. - From 1951 to 1962, as a tribute to the great Bulgarian actor, the institution was named the Krastyo Sarafov National Theatre. - From 1962 to the present day, the official legitimate title has remained the Ivan Vazov National Theatre. Design, Initial Construction, and the Opening Ceremony Scandal The history regarding the construction of the permanent theatrical home began with a decree dated July 14, 1903, through which Minister Doctor Ivan Shishmanov appointed an expert commission led by Ilia Milarov, tasked with preparing a structured proposal for building a dedicated facility in Sofia. The National Assembly approved the initiative, and by an official Decree of Prince Ferdinand First, a land plot in the city center was expropriated. The site was selected symbolically, occupying the exact location of the former temporary wooden theater named Osnova. The actual construction of the monumental building started in June 1904, tracking a design by the world-renowned Viennese architectural bureau of Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer. The exquisite artistic decoration of the ceiling and walls inside the grand auditorium, which boasts a fixed capacity of 848 passenger seats, was entrusted to the celebrated Viennese painter Rudolf Fuchs. The National Theatre opened its doors to public audiences on January 3, 1907, featuring a custom-prepared gala performance. The grand opening, however, was marked by a major political scandal. Before the start of the performance, a massive crowd of Sofia university students gathered outside the building and loudly booed Prince Ferdinand First. The insulted monarch reacted severely, and the following day issued a royal decree closing Sofia University for a duration of six months. The Devastating Fire of 1923 and the Great Reconstruction On February 10, 1923, during a performance of the jubilee spectacle Apotheosis of Native Dramatic Art, a sudden fire broke out on stage, spreading rapidly and completely destroying the entire theater building. In order to sustain cultural life, from the start of the upcoming season, the acting company was deliberately split into two sections, performing across various regional cities throughout Bulgaria. Subsequently, they staged productions for six years on the stage of the custom-renovated Free Theatre (Svoboden Teatar) in Sofia. The entire structure of the National Theatre underwent large-scale reconstruction and was rebuilt from the foundations during the period from 1924 to 1928. The new architectural blueprint was designed by the distinguished German architect Martin Dulfer and the Bulgarian structural engineer Kiril Chaparov, a graduate of the Munich technical school. During this major rebuild, a completely new, secure reinforced concrete structure was developed. Imported directly from Germany was highly sophisticated stage mechanization engineered by the industrial giants Krupp and MAN. At that time, such advanced equipment was unique to the finest and most luxurious opera houses across major European metropolises. This exceptional German technology has operated flawlessly from 1929 to the present day, continuing to service all complex stage productions on the Main Stage of the theater. Wartime Damage, Post-War Restoration, and the Chamber Stage During the intensive air raids over Sofia in World War II, the historic facility sustained serious damage, resulting in the total destruction of the theater's South Wing. Immediately following the conclusion of the war, restoration operations commenced, and the ruined wing was fully rebuilt in its authentic architectural style. By April 1945, the Ivan Vazov National Theatre officially reopened its doors to the Sofia public. The final large-scale restructuring, modernization, and interior artistic restoration was finalized between 1972 and 1975 under the direct management of the prominent Professor Engineer Venelin Venkov. During this project, a specialized new Chamber Stage was developed and fully equipped to host alternative and experimental plays. The comprehensive artistic design of the interior spaces was masterfully executed by elite Bulgarian masters and classics Dechko Uzunov, Georgi Chapkanov, and Ivan Kirkov. Professor Ivan Kirkov custom-designed the theater's main stage curtain, which beautifully depicts the deathless symbol of eternal rebirth - the Phoenix rising from the ashes.