The eighth edition of the ''Slavi Shkarov'' Young Theater Director Competition has begun

Monday, 15 June 2026

In the Chamber Hall of the Sava Ognyanov Drama Theater, the eighth edition of the Slavi Shkarov Young Theater Director Competition, which is on the National Cultural Calendar of the Ministry of Culture and is organized with the support of the Ruse Municipality, was officially launched today. The forum has established itself as a platform for discovering and developing new creative voices in Bulgarian and Balkan theater and runs until June 20. The opening was attended by Deputy Mayor Encho Enchev, the director of the Sava Ognyanov Drama Theater Boyan Ivanov, the participants in this year's edition of the competition, as well as representatives of the cultural community. The event was also honored by arch. Zhivka Buchukovska - member of the Committee on Culture and Media in the 52nd National Assembly.

After a selection by theater historian and theater critic Dr. Zornitsa Kamenova, three directors and one director tandem have reached the final stage, who will develop their stage projects within the creative workshops in Ruse. These are Lyubomir Kolaksazov with the project "Memory on Paper" based on the novel "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury, Maria Panayotova with "To Kill a Minotaur" based on three plays by Margarit Minkov, Teodora Siljanoska from the Republic of North Macedonia with the staging idea "Neither Crab nor Fish" by Franz Xaver Krötz, as well as the Romanian creative tandem Eda Koza and Dan Koza, who will work on the text "Rope and Acrobats" by Peca Stefan.

Over the next six days, young directors from Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Romania will work together with actors from the Ruse Theater troupe within the framework of an intensive creative laboratory under the motto "Labyrinths of the Present". Through a series of workshops, rehearsals and public performances, they will explore contemporary challenges facing man and society, seeking new stage forms and artistic solutions.

“Ruse has always been a city of innovation, spirituality and cultural exchange. The Slavi Shkarov Competition is one of the events that establish our city as a place where young talents have the opportunity to experiment, develop and meet their audience. I am glad that this initiative continues to attract participants from different countries and to create an environment for creative dialogue across borders,” said Encho Enchev. The Deputy Mayor added that the Municipality of Ruse will continue to support projects that promote cultural development and provide a stage for the new generation of artists.

During the ceremony, the program of the competition, the creative teams and the main highlights of the upcoming working sessions were presented. The organizers emphasized the mission of the initiative to preserve the memory of one of the brightest Bulgarian theater directors – Slavi Shkarov, whose name the competition bears for the eighth consecutive year.

The “Slavi Shkarov” competition continues to be among the most prestigious opportunities for professional realization for young directors in Bulgaria. The winner of this year’s edition will receive the opportunity to realize their own performance on the stage of the “Sava Ognyanov” Drama Theater during the 2026/2027 theater season.

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