In the spring of 1881 Plovdiv becomes the only Bulgarian town to have its own theatre building – the Luxemburg International Theatre. The urge for a theatre was inspired by Ivan Vazov. He was the first to encourage the idea of founding a Bulgarian professional theatre in the ‘Narodniy glas’ (‘People’s Voice’) newspaper as well as among his closest supporters – Konstantin Velichkov, Zahary Stoyanov, Michail Madzharov…

 

On 8 December (1881) the Labourers’ Society of Danovata printing house presented Dobri Voinikov’s ‘Stoyan voivode’ and Molière’s ‘The Jealousy of Le Barbouille’ at Luxemburg Theatre, starring and directed by Stefan Petkov Popov.

 

Today Drama Theatre – Plovdiv is a state repertory theatre and one of the country’s leading cultural institutes. Many of the stars of Bulgaria’s theatre and cinema have coined their name in its troupe.

 

Currently, the theatre has a big auditorium (468 seats) and a chamber hall (114 seats).

 

Its troupe performs in Plovdiv, all over the country and abroad. The troupe’s plays and actors have been awarded numerous prestigious theatre prizes.

 

Drama Theatre – Plovdiv is a co-organiser and host of the ‘Stage at a crossroad’ (Stsena na krastopat) Autumn International Theatre Festival which annually takes place in September and whose founder and art director is Prof. Stefan Danailov.