“Theatre Is Excited” festival in Varna features hit productions

The second edition of the International Black Sea Theatre Festival, organized by the Stoyan Bachvarov Drama Theatre in Varna, will take place from September 23 to 28. The programme features a selection of Bulgarian and international productions in its main programme, alongside workshops, exhibitions, book presentations and themed discussions in its accompanying programme.

The festival, titled “Theatre Is Excited”, aims to showcase contemporary productions by theatre companies from Bulgaria and across Europe. The 2026 programme features six Bulgarian and four international productions.

The festival’s most high-profile international participation comes from world-renowned director Gábor Tompa and the Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (Romania) which will visit Varna with Eugène Ionesco’s classic ''Exit The King''. The Croatian National Theatre of Varaždin will present ''Waiting for Orestes'', based on Sophocles’ ''Electra''. Türkiye will be represented by the Bursa Theatre with The Troupe of Migrant Dreamers, while the Italian company AriaTeatro will bring Rita, directed by Alberto Giusta.

The accompanying programme will include an acting masterclass led by acclaimed director and teacher Pico Berkowitch, who works with the Sanford Meisner technique. Thea Denoljubova and Boris Dalchev will lead workshops on playwriting and set design.

Edited by Tsvetana Toncheva

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov