site.btaNational Theatre Marks 117 Years Since Its Building Was Unveiled

The Ivan Vazov National Theatre marks 117 years since its building was unveiled, the theatre's team said on Wednesday. The opening ceremony was held on January 3, 1907, where the theatre troupe was welcomed by the minister of people's enlightenment, Prof Ivan Shishmanov, with the words: "A young people needs the humanizing influence of the stage. You should feel not only like priests of art but also like public educators. The magnificent building is not a theatre yet. It will become one when it gets spiritualzed by the actor's performance."

The building was designed in the Art Nouveau style by architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer. In December 1898, the National Assembly set up a special fund for the building's construction, and by 1904 the resources had grown to BGN 350,000. The foundations were laid on June 4, 1904 in the place of a wooden theatre where the troupe used to perform. The plafond and the walls of the auditorium seating 848 were painted by artist Rudolf Fuchs from Vienna. The building was completed in late 1906.

Bulgaria's oldest professional theatre celebrates as its birthday the year 1904, when the first professional troupe Salza i Smyah [Tear and Laughter] was renamed Bulgarian National Theatre.