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Plovdiv Drama Theatre announces major sponsorship and a historic world premiere

Photo: Radio Plovdiv

The 'N. O. Massalitinov' Drama Theatre in Plovdiv has announced a significant new chapter in cultural philanthropy in Bulgaria. The theatre has entered into a strategic partnership with a leading processor of precious and non-ferrous metals, who will now serve as its general sponsor.

According to the Plovdiv Drama Theatre, this collaboration reflects a shared spirit of vision, commitment, and long-term responsibility. The support reflects the company’s philosophy as a socially responsible partner, with a long-standing commitment to cultural initiatives in Plovdiv. Now, its employees are being invited to take part in a new emotional journey — with exclusive access to theatrical performances as part of the sponsorship initiative.



Accompanying this exciting development is the upcoming world premiere of The Distance by Tiago Rodrigues — a co-production with one of the world’s most prestigious theatre festivals, the Festival d’Avignon.

For the first time in the history of Bulgarian theatre, a local stage is officially co-producing a work selected for the main programme of the Avignon Festival. The world premiere of “The Distance” will take place in July 2025 as part of the festival’s 79th edition. Bulgarian audiences will have the opportunity to see the performance in Plovdiv on 17 and 18 September, during the “Stage at the Crossroads” Autumn Theatre Festival.



Created by Tiago Rodrigues, the artistic director of the Festival d’Avignon and one of the most prominent figures in contemporary theatre, The Distance is a philosophical parable set in the year 2077 when humanity is divided between Earth and Mars. A father remains on a depleted planet while his daughter has chosen the Red Planet as her new home. It is from this interplanetary distance that a universal quest begins — for closeness, understanding, shared memory, and the navigation of an uncertain future.

‘The Distance’ is a co-production with some of Europe's leading theatres, including those in Naples, Athens, Pilsen, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Antwerp, Milan, Lyon, Aix-en-Provence, Strasbourg and Poznań, as well as Taiwan’s National Theatre and Concert Hall (NTCH).



Editors: Tsvetana Toncheva, Elena Karkalanova
Posted in English by E. Radkova
Photos: Radio Plovdiv


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