Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

247 theatre organisations from 39 countries appeal to European Union institutions

MEPs discuss the nationalist violence in front of the Ivan Vazov National Theatre in Sofia

Nationalists barred audience from opening night of John Malkovich's production of Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man

Photo: BGNES Archive

The clashes outside the Ivan Vazov National Theatre during the opening night of John Malkovich's production of Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man have prompted 247 theatre organisations from 39 countries to appeal to the institutions of the European Union.
"At the National Theatre in Sofia, a more than 100-year-old play set in a fictional Bulgaria was performed without an audience on its premiere night because of attacks from ultra-nationalist circles who physically prevented the audience from entering the theatre building," the artists said in their letter to the European Parliament, stressing that attacks on artistic freedom have reached an almost absurd level in many member states.


The theatre organisations call on the European institutions to take note of the nationalist attacks against cultural institutions and the arts. 

They add that what is happening is part of an organised strategy to subordinate culture to conservative and nationalist politics, which could lead to the undermining of the Europeana 1989 project to promote Europe's cultural heritage.



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

Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov (L) and Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev at a press conference.

Energy minister says Bulgaria’s fuel supplies safe until year-end

Fuel supplies for the domestic market are fully secured until the end of the year , Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov said, following the United States’ sanctions on Russian oil giants Lukoil and Rosneft. He added that the market would be closely monitored to..

published on 10/24/25 4:07 PM

Bulgaria’s defence industry offers opportunities for successful partnerships, President Rumen Radev says

“Bulgaria’s defence industry is renowned for its quality and enjoys an excellent international reputation. This offers great opportunities for close cooperation with Vietnam in the security sector,” President Rumen Radev said during a visit to the..

published on 10/24/25 3:11 PM

Cabinet to reallocate security service cars to President’s administration

The Council of Ministers has proposed transferring vehicles from the National Security Service (NSO) to the Presidential Administration through a legislative change, Bulgaria National Radio reporter Tsvetelina Stoyanova reported. This would not put a..

published on 10/24/25 2:04 PM