The Last Night of Socrates is a landmark among the philosophical dramas of Stefan Tsanev — a poet and playwright whose works have maintained a lasting presence on the Bulgarian stage for decades. Throughout his oeuvre, including The Trial Against the Bogomils, The Secret Supper of Deacon Levski, and The Spirit of the Poet, Tsanev returns to pivotal historical moments, transforming them into a living dialogue with the present. His poetic yet lucid style lends contemporary resonance to historical narratives, which explains the enduring stage life of his plays.

The world premiere of The Last Night of Socrates took place in 1986 at Theatre 199. Since then, the play has been staged in more than 20 theatres across Bulgaria and over 40 internationally, establishing itself as one of the most widely recognized Bulgarian dramatic works abroad. Thirty-nine years later, the play returns to the stage of Theatre 199. This new production also marks the theatre’s 60th anniversary, turning the revival into a symbolic gesture of memory and continuity.

The play illuminates the final night before Socrates’ death. In his prison cell, the philosopher awaits the execution of his sentence, yet rather than offering a historical reconstruction, Tsanev presents an intense philosophical dialogue. Encounters with friends and disciples unfold into a moral debate on truth, compromise, civic responsibility, and freedom of thought — issues that resonate with striking immediacy today. Socrates appears both as a mythic figure and a vulnerable human being, confronted with his ultimate personal choice.

Icarus 2026 Award (Union of Bulgarian Actors) for Supporting Actress (Irini Jambonas)

Askeer 2026 Theatre Award nomination for Leading Male Role (Atanas Atanasov and Ivaylo Hristov)

Askeer 2026 Theatre Award nomination for Best Performance