Podcast in English
Audio Player
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

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.
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!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

The protest of Sofia's public transport workers will continue indefinitely

The protest of the workers in Sofia's public transport, which has blocked the capital since the morning, is still ongoing , the chairman of the Federation of Transport Unions in the Confederation of Bulgarian Trade Unions Alexander Shopov told Radio..

published on 5/14/25 5:30 PM

63% of Bulgarians support the idea of ​​a referendum on the euro: Myara agency survey

The idea of ​​a referendum on the euro is supported by 63.3% of Bulgarians and 35.3% are "against". This is shown by an independent poll by the Myara sociological agency conducted in the period 10-13 May among 803 people and representing the opinions..

published on 5/14/25 4:57 PM

Rosen Zhelyazkov's cabinet with a vision for a 4-year term in office

The government’s program includes 100 priorities, distributed across 19 sectors, with a vision for a full four-year term. This was announced by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, who presented a report on what the government has achieved so far under its..

published on 5/14/25 3:14 PM