Witty, bold, and brilliantly irreverent, The Great by Tony McNamara is a theatrical whirlwind in which history, absurdity, and sweeping satire collide with imperial splendor. Vesela Babinova steps into the role of Catherine II, and through the author’s characteristic humor, sarcasm, and taste for historical provocation, the production transforms Catherine the Great into the focal point of a visually rich and energetic theatrical satire. Here, power, desire, ambition, and political cruelty intertwine with spectacle, irony, and humor in a world where danger lurks everywhere.

Tony McNamara, widely known as the creator of the hit TV series The Great, breaks apart the canonical image of Catherine II, portraying her as an intelligent, ambitious, and vulnerable woman confronting a crude, hostile, and  male-dominated world. Romantic intrigues, struggles for dominance, and the absurdity of power come together in a narrative that reinterprets the ruler through contemporary themes: the woman placed within a ruthless hierarchy, intellect in an age of madness, and power as a comedy with fatal consequences.

Nominations: IKAR Awards 2026 (Union of Bulgarian Actors) for Direction — Stayko Murdzhev and Debut — Alexander Kenderov (Hermes/Val)