ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
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.

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.
Radio Bulgaria News    arms and the man ivan vazov national theatre john malkovich protests

More from category

Apostolos Tzitzikostas.

Bulgaria, Greece and Romania have finalized a memorandum for joint cooperation on transport projects

Bulgaria, Greece and Romania have finalized a memorandum for joint cooperation on new transport projects, said European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas. He stated that an agreement for the..

published on 10/20/25 11:54 AM
The memorial plaque of St. John of Rila on the cathedral in Esztergom, in honor of the Day of Hungarian-Bulgarian Friendship

Bulgarian priest proposes prayer service for successful peace talks in Budapest

Russia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Grushko stated that Moscow has not held talks regarding a possible overflight of President Vladimir Putin’s plane over Poland, Romania and Bulgaria on the way to Budapest. “It is still too early..

published on 10/20/25 9:36 AM
Daniel Mitov

Bulgaria's Minister of Interior says that Russian intelligence services are aiding illegal migration

Russian spies and hard-left humanitarian groups are working with people smugglers to food Europe with illegal migrants, wrote '' The Times'' , quoting Bulgaria’s Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov. Daniel Mitov said that the Bulgarian government..

published on 10/20/25 9:19 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 17
Partly Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 16
Partly Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 16
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 18
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 16
Partly Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 16
Partly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 15
Partly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 15
Partly Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 19
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 17
Partly Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 15
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 17
Partly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 18
Partly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 14
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 17
Partly Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 19
Partly Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 15
Partly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 16
Partly Cloudy
Min: 4 | Max: 16
Clear
Min: 5 | Max: 17
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 14
Partly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 15
Partly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 20
Partly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 15
Partly Cloudy
Min: 4 | Max: 17
Partly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 16
Clear
Min: 5 | Max: 20
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

Bulgaria's Minister of Interior says that Russian intelligence services are aiding illegal migration

Russian spies and hard-left humanitarian groups are working with people smugglers to food Europe with illegal migrants, wrote '' The Times'' , quoting..

published on 10/20/25 9:19 AM

Bulgarian priest proposes prayer service for successful peace talks in Budapest

Russia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Grushko stated that Moscow has not held talks regarding a possible overflight of President..

published on 10/20/25 9:36 AM

European Public Prosecutor’s Office investigates fictitious mussel farm in the Black Sea

Suspicions of large-scale fraud with EU funds in a project to build a mussel farm in the Black Sea – southeast of Cape Emine in the..

published on 10/20/25 1:59 PM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"