National theater Ivan Vazov

The building of the Ivan Vazov National Theater

By order of July 14, 1903, Minister Dr. Iv. D. Shishmanov appoints a commission headed by Mr. Iliya Milarov to prepare a proposal for the construction of a building for the National Theater in Sofia. The National Assembly made a decision and by Decree of Prince Ferdinand I expropriated land on the site of the former wooden theater “Osnova”, where in June 1904 the construction of the building began according to the project of the Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer. The picturesque layout of the ceiling and walls in the auditorium, which has 848 seats, was commissioned to the famous Viennese artist Rudolf Fuchs. The National Theater opened its doors on January 3, 1907 with a special performance. Before the grand opening, many students booed Prince Ferdinand I and he decided by decree to close Sofia дUniversity for six months.

On February 10, 1923, during the jubilee performance “Apotheosis of the native dramatic art”, a fire broke out and destroyed the theater. Since the beginning of the new season, the troupe has been playing divided into two parts in different cities of Bulgaria, and then for six years – on the stage of the specially renovated “Free Theater” in Sofia.

The building of the National Theater was reconstructed in the period 1924-1928 according to the project of the German architect Martin Dülfer and the Bulgarian construction engineer, who graduated in Munich, Kiril Chaparov. In addition to the construction of the new reinforced concrete structure, stage mechanization was delivered from Germany, manufactured by the companies “Krupp” and “MAN”, such as only the best theaters in European metropolises have. This technique has been in operation since 1929 to this day, being used in all performances of the theater’s Grand Stage.

During the bombing of Sofia in the Second World War, the South Wing of the theater was destroyed. After the end of the war, the building was restored and from April 1945 the National Theater opened its doors to the public again. The last reconstruction and restoration was carried out in 1972-1975 under the leadership of Prof. Eng. Venelin Venkov, when a special Chamber Stage was also built. The overall artistic layout is the work of the artists Dechko Uzunov, Georgi Chapkenov and Ivan Kirkov, who is also the author of the curtain of the theater – the unquenchable Phoenix.

The address of the National Theater is: Sofia, 5 “Deacon Ignatiy” St

The National Theater opened its doors on January 3, 1907 with a special performance. Before the grand opening, many students booed Prince Ferdinand I and he decided by decree to close Sofia University for six months.