Share

Text size

Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Protest, counter-protest outside National Theatre over John Malkovich production

George Bernard Shaw's play Arms and the Man sparks violent nationalist discontent

published on 11/9/24 9:58 AM

Photo: BTA

A second night of protests took place outside the Ivan Vazov National Theatre in Sofia, but this time there were no physical confrontations. The protest was again over George Bernard Shaw's play Arms and the Man, directed by John Malkovich.

Two groups of demonstrators rallied: protesters and counter-protesters, the former denouncing the play as "anti-Bulgarian", the latter expressing their discontent with the protest.

"I'm not Bulgarian and I can't imagine why this play, which is a work of fiction, set in Bulgaria, with quite charming Bulgarian characters, should be considered so offensive. I think it's a charming and funny play. It's a stage, not an arena," John Malkovich told the national media.

Many actors, including Teodora Duhovnikova, Julian Vergov and Darin Angelov, as well as politicians, turned up to support the cast and director of the show. The Mayor of Sofia, Vasil Terziev, said: "It is important to protest and to express one's opinion, but in a civilised way.

John Malkovich in the auditorium of the National Theatre.

Photos: BTA

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Radio Bulgaria News arms and the man ivan vazov national theatre john malkovich protests

More from category

Scientists bring back live fish from Antarctica

Kristiyan Vladov and Stefan Kyurkchiev of the Plovdiv Museum of Natural History are working on a project to bring live fish from the southern Arctic Circle to Bulgaria . The aim is to create an Antarctic aquarium in Plovdiv, where visitors - from..

published on 2/16/25 2:04 PM

Defence minister Zapryanov (L) takes part in the 61st Munich Security Conference, which opened on Friday.

EU accepts Bulgaria's proposal on defence modernisation spending

A procedure will be introduced to exclude military expenditure from the inflation index, Bulgarian Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov announced in Munich, BTA reported. Speaking at the Security Conference, the minister said that Bulgaria had been..

published on 2/16/25 11:33 AM

President Radev calls for stronger EU security and urges North Macedonia to implement Consensus 2022

Addressing the crises facing the EU requires strengthening Europe's global competitiveness and ensuring security, President Rumen Radev said during a meeting with European Council President António Costa at the Munich Security Conference...

published on 2/16/25 10:39 AM

1
..
3
4
5
6
7
..
10

WEATHER

Pick city: Sofía

Значителна облачност със сняг
Min: -5 | Max: 0

BULGARIA IN PICTURES

Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?

MOST VIEWED

Scientists bring back live fish from Antarctica

Kristiyan Vladov and Stefan Kyurkchiev of the Plovdiv Museum of Natural History are working on a project to bring live fish from the southern Arctic..

published on 2/16/25 2:04 PM

New Russian emigration in Bulgaria pays tribute to Alexei Navalny

The one-year anniversary of the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was marked with a memorial service in Sofia's St Nedelya Cathedral. It..

published on 2/16/25 5:39 PM

Finance Minister to present Bulgaria's euro area readiness in Brussels

Bulgarian Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova will travel to Brussels to provide an update on Bulgaria’s progress towards euro area accession. The..

published on 2/17/25 7:40 AM

shopify analytics ecommerce
tracking