History

State Puppet Theatre – Stara Zagora has been nominated for four IKAR 2020 awards.

“The Last man” based on George Orwell’s novel “1984” produced by State Puppet Theatre – Stara Zagora and directed by Veselka Kuncheva has been nominated for IKAR 2020 awards in 3 categories:

Stage design - Marieta Golomehova;

Masterful technical realization and

Music - Hristo Namliev and Militsa Gladnishka!

“To put it mildly” based on Valeri Petrov, produced by State Puppet Theatre – Stara Zagora and directed by Tsveti Penyashki has been also nominated for IKAR 2020 award in the category Individual achievements in puppetry for the music written by Milen Apostolov.

"The Last Man" participates at "Pierrot" 2019

"The Last Man" directed by Veselka Kuncheva and based on George Orwell's novel "1984" will be presented out of the competition program at the 11th International Puppet Theater for Adults Festival PIERROT 2019.

"Folklore Magic" at the festival "Colorful Rooster", Pleven

The performance "Folklore Magic", staged by Prof. Bonyo Lungov participates at the II-nd Festival of Puppetry for All Ages "Colorful Rooster", Pleven.

The performance "Women of the Orange Gardens" at the "New Bulgarian Drama" Theater Festival, Shumen

The performance "Women of the Orange Gardens", by Olya Stoyanova, directed by Lyubomir Kolaksazov, stage design by Victoria Andrekova, music by Hristo Namliev, choreography by Maria Dimitrova participates in the "New Bulgarian Drama" Theater Festival, Shumen.

Another label of significance and innovation for Pierrot, EFFE 2019-2020

The European Festival Association Awarded another Significance and Innovation Label EFFE 2019-2020 to the International Puppet Theater for Adults Festival Pierrot.

State Puppet Theater - Stara Zagora gets the highest grade

The highest excellent complex grade among all state cultural institutes in the field of performing arts was given to State Puppet Theater - Stara Zagora by the Ministry of Culture.

Award for high performance in the fields of theater management and creative activity

State Puppet Theater Stara Zagora received an award by the Minister of Culture Boil Banov for high results in the fields of theatrical management and creative activity.

"Gelsomino in the Land of the Liars" at the "Puppets' Fair" Festival

Participation of the performance "Gelsomino in the Land of Liars", staged by Elitsa Petkova, at the "Puppets' Fair" festival, Sofia 2018.

"Turandot" at the "Mozart Holidays" Festival, Pravets 2018

Participation of the co-production "Turandot" of State Opera Stara Zagora and State Puppet Theater Stara Zagora at the "Mozart Holidays" festival, Pravets 2018.

"The White Crow" at the 1st Festival for All Ages "Colorful Rooster"

Participation of the performance "The White Crow" by Karel Chapek, directed by Lyabomir Kolaksazov, stage design by Victoria Andrekova, composer Hristo Namliev, choreography by Maria Dimitrova at the First International Puppet Festival for All Ages "Colorful Rooster", Pleven.

Stage Design Award for "Fear" at the 17th "Golden Dolphin" International Puppet Festival

Stage Design Award to Marieta Golomehova for the performance "Fear" by Ina Bozhidarova and Veselka Kuncheva, staged by Veselka Kuncheva at the 17th "Golden Dolphin" International Puppet Festival, Varna, Bulgaria.

"Life of Rage" and "Gelsomino in the Land of Liars" at the 10th International Puppet Theater Festival for Adults "Pierrot"

Participation of the performances "Life of Rage" based on Dostoevsky's texts, staging by Veselka Kuncheva, stage design by Marieta Golomehova, music by Hristo Namliev and "Gelsomino in the Land of Liars" by Gianni Rodari, staging by Elitsa Petkova at the 10th International Puppet Theater Festival for Adults "Pierrot", Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.

"Baron Munchausen" at the 4th International Puppet Festival in the Open "Puppets' Days"

Participation of the performance "Baron Munchausen", staging by Slavcho Malenov at the 4th International Puppet Festival in the Open "Puppets' Days", Burgas, Bulgaria.

The "Stara Zagora" Award

The "Stara Zagora" Award was given to the State Puppet Theatre Stara Zagora for significant artistic and creative achievements in the cultural life of the city.

„Gelsomino in the Land of Liars“ at the 19th International "Golden Spark" Puppet Festival

Participation of "Gelsomino in the Land of Liars" by Gianni Rodari, staged by Elica Petkova at the 19th International "Golden Spark" Puppet Festival, Kragujevac, Serbia.

The 2017 IKAR Award for "Gelsomino in the Land of Liars"

The 2017 IKAR Award for Puppetry Art for the "Gelsomino in the Land of Liars" play by Gianni Rodari, produced by Elitsa Petkova.

SIVINA Award bestowed upon the young actor Dilyana Spasova 

The SIVINA Award bestowed upon the young actor Dilyana Spasova for her roles in Karel Chapek's play "The White Crow", staged by Lyubomir Kolaksazov, stage design by Victoria Andrekova, music by Hristo Namliev.

Participation in the International Theater Festival "Forbidden for Adults"

Participation of the performance "Pippi the Long Socking" by Astrid Lindgren, dramatization and production by Valentin Vladimirov, stage design by Teodora Lazarova, music by Stanimir Ivanov at the 5th International Children's and Youth Audience Theater Festival, Smolyan, Smolyan.

"Folklore Magic" at the Festival "Two are few, three are many"

Participation of the performance "Folklore Magic", staged by Professor Bonyo Lungov at the 22nd International Puppet Theater Festival "Two are few, three are many", Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

"Folklore Magic" at "Puppets' Days", Burgas

Participation of the performance "Folklore Magic", production by Prof. Bonyo Lungov at the 3rd International Puppet Festival "Puppets' Days", Burgas, Bulgaria.

Participation at the International Festival "Drumovi Theater Feasts"

Participation of the performance "Folklore Magic", staged by Prof. Bonyo Lungov at the 25th International Festival "Drumovi Theater Feasts. New Bulgarian Drama", Shumen, Bulgaria.

Management and Marketing Award

State Puppet Theatre - Stara Zagora receives an award for Excellence in Management and Marketing by the Minister of Culture Vezhdi Rashidov, Sofia.

The "Stara Zagora" Award

The “Stara Zagora” Award for high creative achievements in the cultural life of the city.

"The Wizard of Oz" gets an Award in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Award for Best Performance (GRAND PRIX) and Golden Anim for the performance of "The Wizard of Oz" at the 16th LUT FEST International Festival of Professional Puppet Arts 2015, East Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

3 IKAR Awards for "Fear"

• The IKAR award for best puppet performance bestowed for the play "Fear" of Ina Bozhidarova and Veselka Kuncheva;
• The IKAR award for masterful technical implementation of the play "Fear" written by Ina Bozhidarova and Veselka Kuncheva;
• The IKAR award for best original music written by Hristo Namliev in the play "Fear" of Ina Bozhidarova and Vesleka Kuncheva.

The "Lyubimets 13" Award

The "Lyubimets 13" best puppet acting award bestowed to State Puppet Theatre – Stara Zagora for the plays "Fear", "Folklore magic" and "The Wizard of Oz".

The “Stara Zagora” Award

The “Stara Zagora” Award for high creative achievements in the cultural life of the city.

Award for "The Never Born Maiden"

An award for preserving the traditions of the national folklore tales bestowed at the XXI International Puppet Theatre Festival “Two are less, three are many” in Plovdiv, Bulgaria for the play “The never born maiden” directed by Hristina Arsenova.

Participation in the International Theatre Kingfestival, Russia

Participation in the International Theatre Kingfestival in Velikiy Novgorod, Russia with the play “Cinderella” directed by Elza Laleva.

Award for „The Never Born Maiden”

Best staging award bestowed to Simona Nanova at the 14th International Children Theatre Festival “Magic story” for the play “The never born maiden” produced by State Puppet Theatre – Stara Zagora and „ARTE VIVA” foundation.

SIVINA Award Nomination for „Beauty and the Beast”

Nomination for the SIVINA award bestowed by the Directors' association of "UNIMA", Bulgaria to Kiril Antonov as the best young puppeteer for his part in the play „Beauty and the Beast”, directed by Iroslav Petkov and produced by State Puppet Theatre – Stara Zagora.

Participation in the “Puppet fair”, Sofia

Participation in the “Puppet fair” International Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Participation in BÁBKARSKÁ BYSTRICA, Slovakia

Participation in the 18th BÁBKARSKÁ BYSTRICA International Puppet Theatre Festival in Banska Bistrica, Slovakia.

The SIVINA award for „The Little Wood Nymph”

The SIVINA award bestowed by the Directors' association of "UNIMA", Bulgaria to Vanya Viktorovna Kamyanska as the best young puppeteer for her part in the play „The Little Wood Nymph” directed by Slavcho Malenov and produced by State Puppet Theatre – Stara Zagora.

The SIVINA award for „Commedia almost Dell’ Arte”

The SIVINA award bestowed by the Directors' association of "UNIMA", Bulgaria to Kaloyan Georgiev as the best young puppeteer for his part in the play “Commedia almost Dell’ Arte” play produced by State Puppet Theatre – Stara Zagora.

„Oedipus. The feast of blindness” in Macedonia

The co-production “Oedipus. The feast of blindness” of State Puppet Theatre – Stara Zagora, State Puppet Theatre – Plovdiv and State Puppet Theatre – Burgas won the best acting award at the 9th „Stobi” International Festival for Antique and Drama Theatre in Veles, Macedonia.

The “Stara Zagora” Award for „Oedipus. The feast of blindness”

The “Stara Zagora” Award for outstanding achievements in the culture field bestowed for the realization of the play “Oedipus. The feast of blindness”.

Award for „The Brave tin Soldier”

The Best actor award bestowed to Delyan Kyosev for his part as the little boy in “The Brave tin Soldier” play at the VІ International Puppet Theatre for Adults Festival “PIERROT” 2009 in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.

Award for „The Little Wood Nymph”

The Best direction award bestowed to Slavcho Malenov, the best acting award bestowed to Delyan Kyosev and 2nd award of the Holland jury bestowed for the play “The Little Wood Nymph” at the 18th International Puppet Theatre Festival “Two are less, three are many” in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

„Beauty and the Beast” in Sofia

Presenting the play “Beauty and the Beast”, directed by Petar Pashov at the “Puppet fair” Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria.

„Baron Munchausen” in Moscow

Presenting the play “Baron Munchausen”, directed by – Slavcho Malenov at the 3rd International Puppet Theatre Festival “Tea drinking in Mytishchi”, Moscow.

„Baron Munchausen” in Varna

The best acting award and the Best dramaturgy award for the play “Baron Munchausen”, directed by Slavcho Malenov at the International Puppet Theatre Festival “The Golden Dolphin” in Varna, Bulgaria.

„Beauty and the Beast” in Bialsko Bjala, Poland

Presenting the play “Beauty and the Beast”, directed by Petar Pashov at the ХХІІІ International Festival for Puppet Theatre Art in Bialsko Bjala, Poland.

“The King Frog” in Plovdiv

3rd award bestowed by the Holland jury at the 17th International Puppet Theatre Festival “Two are less, three are many” for the play “The King Frog”, directed by Darin Petkov.

Award for “The King Stag”

The Best acting award at the V International Puppet Theatre Festival for Adults “PIERROT” 2007 bestowed for the play “The King Stag”, directed by Petar Pashov.

“Baron Munchausen” in Plovdiv

The Best and original interpretation award, The Children’s jury award and The Holland jury award at the International Puppet Theatre Festival “Two are less, three are many” in Plovdiv, Bulgaria for the play “Baron Munchausen”, directed by Slavcho Malenov.

The “Stara Zagora” Award

The “Stara Zagora” award for outstanding achievements in the culture field.

Award bestowed by the Ministry of Culture

An award bestowed by the Ministry of Culture for outstanding achievements in the field of creation and dissemination of theatrical productions.

“Ikar” award for “Baron Munchausen”

The “Ikar” award for puppet theatre art bestowed by the The Union of the Bulgarian Actors for the play “Baron Munchausen”, directed by Slavcho Malenov.

“Wilm the Long Nose” in Montenegro

The Award for puppet theatre art at the International Festival in Kotor, Montenegro for the play “Wilm the Long Nose”, directed by Ivan Raykov.

“Insomnia” in Pilsen, Czech Republic

Presenting the play “Insomnia”, directed by Zheni Pashova and Petar Pashov at the ХХVІ Festival for Puppet Art in Pilsen, Czech Republic.

Participation in Thessaloniki, Greece

Participation of State Puppet Theatre – Stara Zagora at the First Balkan Arts Market for Staging Arts in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Award for “Insomnia”

The Award for a “Perspective young troupe” at the ІV International Puppet Theatre for Adults Festival “PIERROT” 2005 for the play “Insomnia”, directed by Zheni Pashova and Petar Pashov.

Award for “Stories from the long gone past”

The Best direction Award at the “Michael Lakatnik” National Festival in Yambol, Bulgaria for the play “Stories from the long gone past”, directed by Petar Pashov.

The “Stara Zagora” Award for “Insomnia”

The “Stara Zagora” Award for outstanding achievements in the culture field bestowed for the realization of the play “Insomnia”, directed by Zheni Pashova and Petar Pashov.

“Snow-white and the seven dwarfs” again in the USA

Presenting the play “Snow-white and the seven dwarfs”, directed by Ivan Raykov at the Summer Festival takin place in the Centre for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, Georgia, also in Boston and at the Puppeteers of America” festival in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA.

Special Prize in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Special Prize for puppet theatre art at the International Children Theatre Festival in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina bestowed for the play “Stories from the long gone past”, directed by Petar Pashov.

"Snow-white and the seven dwarfs" in Oklahoma, USA

Presenting the play “Snow-white and the seven dwarfs”, directed by Ivan Raykov at the “Puppeteers of America” festival in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, USA. State Puppet Theatre becomes member of the Union of the Puppeteers of America

"Shadows in the night" in Istanbul

Presenting the play “Shadows in the night”, directed by Biserka Kolevska at the International Festival for Puppet Theatre Art in Istanbul.

Award for “Shadows in the night”

The award for “Experimental and new forms” for the play “Shadows in the night”, directed by Biserka Kolevska at the ІІ International Puppet Theatre for Adults Festival “PIERROT” 2001.

"The Little Elf" in Prague

Presenting the play “The Little Elf”, directed by Slavcho Malenov at the World Festival of Puppet Theatre Art – Prague.

Award by "Open Society - Stara Zagora"

The Award for “Outstanding achievements in the culture field” bestowed by “Open Society - Stara Zagora” for the initiation and implementation of the 1st edition of International Puppet Theatre for Adults Festival “PIERROT” 2000.

"Wilm the Long Nose" in Spain

Presenting the play “Wilm the Long Nose”, directed by Ivan Raykov at the International Puppet Festivals in Tolosa and Alicante – Spain

International Puppet Theatre Festival Award

The best acting award for the play “Wilm the Long Nose”, directed by Ivan Raykov at the International Puppet Theatre Festival “Prague – The European Capital of Culture 2000”

Award by "Open Society - Stara Zagora"

The Award for “Outstanding achievements in the culture field” bestowed by “Open Society - Stara Zagora”

Award for "Wilm the Long Nose"

Best dramaturgy, best set design, best music and best acting awards for the play “Wilm the Long Nose”, directed by Ivan Raykov at the International Puppet Theatre Festival “The Golden Dolphin” in Varna, Bulgaria.

Award for "The Little Elf"

1st prize bestowed by The Union of the Bulgarian Actors for the technical realization of the play “The Little Elf”, directed by Slavcho Malenov.

Contemporary

Since 1998, manager of State Puppet Theatre – Stara Zagora is Mr. Darin Petkov. In our days the company has a pretty young team. The repertoire is full with performances both for children and adults. The company has a leading position and exceptional national and international recognition.

State Puppet Theatre – Stara Zagora is a repertoire theatre at state financing. More than 300 performances for children and adults by Bulgarian and foreign authors have been staged here. 

The company has at its disposal a separate building, two stages /the main one and an open-air stage/ and ateliers, which enables the effective planning of the activities. With our artistic and financial results, we are one of the leaders in our field.

Tsakev General Manager

After the withdrawal of Mr. Apostolov in 1982, Lyubomir Tsakev became manager of the company. He retired in 1996 due to an illness and his place has been taken for two years by Mr. Emil Ivanov.

Apostolov General Manager

From 1968 to 1982 Vasil Apostolov worked as a manager and director of the company. He’s the one who actually did transform State Puppet Theatre – Stara Zagora into a professional theatre company. At the place of the former community center he built a modern theatre building with a contemporary stage, a hall, sound and light equipment, a pastry shop, a big singing clock with mounted puppets on it and placed the dancing Pierrot (made by another talented sculptor – Mr. Emil Ivanov) in front of the lobby.

Reformers and Innovators

The Bulgarian National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA) has launched a Department for Puppet Theatre Art and its first graduate – Mrs. Antoaneta Botusharova has started work in Puppet Theatre – Stara Zagora. The same thing did Mr. Veselin Nedelchev - a scenographer who deserved to be called “the Bulgarian Papa Carlo”. 

Right after the pioneers, the reformers and innovators came into the company. Faith brought together Vasil Apostolov and Lyubomir Tsakev and created a long-standing creative tandem. Apostolov and Tsakev joined the Theatre in 1968.

New General Manager

From 1957 to 1965, Petar Dobchev was a manager of the company and from 1965 to 1968 Lidiya Ventsislavova performed these functions.

State Puppet Theatre

The company became part of the State’s structure on January 1, 1962. The actors - Mariana Hristova, Aleksander Temelkov, Georgi Monev, Zdravko Kalpakchiev – Ziko, Anastasiya Lukanova, Zdravka Mihaylova joined the team. Mariya Yankova (the former manager) has a special contribution to the development of State Puppet Theatre - Stara Zagora.

The Puppet Theatre was Established

At that time, a few young people with different professions (Kosta Valkov, Denka Dimova, Lidia Aleksandrova, Marin Pavlov, Katya Zagorova, Dobrina Bunardzhieva, Dobrina Vasileva) gathered together to start new creative work even if it was risky for their careers to do so without any special academic education, having only natural affinity for such type of art and cultural idealism. With hard work and persistence they managed to acquire puppet’s specific language and started to use it confidently. Founder and first manager of the Theatre was Petar Dobchev. He was also the first director whose first performance was titled „The Bear Tourist”. It was a time of enthusiasm, naivety and Illusory- realistic theater.