Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 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.

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

Professor Rumen Popov

The number of blood donors increases

One thousand more blood donations were made in the past year at the Center for Transfusion Hematology of the Military Medical Academy, the medical institution reported. "The number of blood donors exceeded 7,000 – half of them are civilian..

published on 12/24/24 3:53 PM

Ten babies have been born in 2024 under the donor program of Sofia Municipality

Ten babies have been born in the past year under the donor program of Sofia Municipality to support families with reproductive problems. Among them there are two pairs of twins. Baby Mihaela took its first breath yesterday. Her parents received..

published on 12/24/24 2:07 PM
Nikolay

Military personnel join the search for 13-year-old Nikolay

The 13-year-old boy with Down syndrome from the village of Konare (Stara Zagora district) has been missing for eight days now, caretaker Minister of Interior Atanas Ilkov said. In his words, all necessary actions have been taken to search for the..

published on 12/24/24 11:58 AM