The 34th edition of the Varna Summer International Theatre Festival came to a close on 11 June with the performances Flies Without Heads by Konstantin Velichkov Drama and Puppet Theatre – Pazardzhik and The Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk by Varna State Puppet Theatre. For eleven days, Bulgaria’s sea capital once again became the country’s largest summer theatre stage – a meeting place for artists, audiences, ideas and diverse stage languages.

This year’s edition unfolded under the sign of theatre as a shared experience – an honest conversation between the stage and the audience, one that continues even after the performance has ended. The programme brought together strong Bulgarian productions, outstanding international guest performances, dance and performative forms, professional meetings, discussions, blog content and events that once again turned the festival into a space for cultural exchange and vivid dialogue.

Among the highlights of the programme were Little England by Ivan Vazov National Theatre, Eurydice by Bulgarian Army Theatre, Elephant in the Room and The Last Night of Socrates by Theatre 199, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Sofia Theatre, Velika by the Little City Theatre “Off the Channel”, Albion by Nikolay Binev Youth Theatre, The Face of the Neighbour by Sfumato Theatre Laboratory, When the Roses Dance by Aleko Konstantinov Satirical Theatre, as well as a number of other significant titles from the current theatre season.

The international programme introduced the Varna audience to The Tempest by Tamási Áron Theatre from Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania, directed by Viktor Bodó; Illusions by Company SPUNK from Toulouse/Paris, France, directed by Galin Stoev; and Rapture and Rage by the German media and performance collective LIGNA. These guest performances broadened the festival’s horizons and raised important questions about contemporary humanity, community, freedom and the role of theatre in today’s world.

A special place in the programme was given to the concert Fusion by virtuoso violinist Vasko Vassilev and Spanish guitarist Carlos Llave, presented with the support of the Varna Summer International Music Festival and dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Bulgaria’s oldest music festival. In this way, the theatre festival once again opened up a space for encounters between different arts and audiences.

The festival was also accompanied by professional forums, meetings and discussions, including the conference Archives and Theatre, meetings with participants and guests of the theatre showcase, as well as the round table Festivals: Creative Collaborations. Opportunities for Festival Routes and Joint Projects. These events turned Varna Summer not only into a stage for presenting performances, but also into a working space for exchanging experience, ideas and future partnerships.

This year, once again, the official festival blog captured the atmosphere of the event through interviews, reviews and professional perspectives on the performances in the programme. Audiences can immerse themselves once more in the festival days at varnatheatrefest.viafest.org.

We thank our audiences, partners, hosts, artists, collaborators and friends for their trust, support and shared experience.

Until we meet again through the art of theatre!

The Varna Summer International Theatre Festival is organised by the Via Fest Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Varna Municipality, the Ministry of Tourism, the National Culture Fund and the Varna Summer International Music Festival. The event is also supported by Fun Port Varna, Cherno More Hotel, Modus Hotel, Aqua Hotel, Grand Hotel London, Capitol Hotel, Splendid Boutique Hotel, Opera Plaza Hotel, Graffit Gallery Hotel, Villa Grivitsa Winery, and with the media support of the Bulgarian National Television, Bulgarian News Agency, Radio Varna, BG Radio, Kultura Portal, SceneArt, Impressio, Moreto.net, въпреки.com, Literary Newspaper, Nova Varna, Art Varna and others.