If we ignore what happened outside the National Theatre, it will become the norm, writers warn

The scriptwriters, authors and playwrights of the Bulgarian Association of Film, Television and Radio Screenwriters have condemned the aggression against spectators, actors, authors and staff of the Ivan Vazov National Theatre. In an open letter, they state that they are strongly opposed to the trend in recent months to reject and censor works of art in the country in the form of plays, films and books.

The purpose of art is precisely to raise questions, to evoke reflection, to inspire and even to provoke, the association points out. For this reason, "trying to fit it into comfortable, misconceived norms is a censorship that no society needs".

"Ignoring what happened outside the National Theatre risks making it the norm, until one day we wake up in a society where it will be impossible to resist," the BAFTRS position paper adds.

The opening night of John Malkovich's production of Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man sparked violent protests outside the National Theatre in Sofia on Friday.