Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Protests take place after Alexander Morfov is fired as National Theatre principal director

The protest in front of the Ivan Vazov National Theatre building
Photo: BGNES

Protests have been taking place in Sofia for the third day running in defence of the principal director of the Ivan Vazov National Theatre Alexander Morfov whose disciplinary dismissal from the post was made public on 28 February. Before his dismissal, the theatre’s PR officer Velislava Krasteva announced she was handing in her resignation.

Alexander Morfov’s dismissal and Velislava Krasteva’s resignation came after a scandal which broke out at the National Theatre a few months ago as a result of the appointment of Velislava Krasteva, who is former PR officer of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) to the post of PR officer of the National Theatre. She is also former MRF MP and accompanied the Movement’s honorary chairman Ahmed Dogan as he went to cast his vote at the previous election for parliament. This elicited a strong reaction among some members of the theatre company. Velislava Krasteva’s door at the National Theatre had “MRF” and “Get out” scribbled onto it and the name plate was broken off, which director Alexander Morfov took responsibility for. He later accused Krasteva of “political propaganda”.

At a press conference, National Theatre director Vasil Vasilev stated that the positions of Alexander Morfov and Velislava Krasteva at the theatre had been terminated so as to preserve the theatre, but added that Morfov’s stagings will still be played. Vasilev stated further that for four months he had fought to keep the institution going and to preserve the dignity of the staff.

Alexander Morfov is one of the most popular stage directors in Bulgaria, holder of numerous prestigious Bulgarian and international awards



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.

More from category

122 years since the outbreak of the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie uprising

The 122 nd anniversary of the outbreak of the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie uprising will be marked on 2 August in the locality Predela with a flower and wreath laying ritual at the monument Ilinden. Razlog municipality has announced that the ritual will..

published on 8/2/25 7:05 AM

The Union of Thracian Societies commemorates the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising

In the village of Slaveyno near Smolyan, the Union of Thracian Societies in Bulgaria is organizing a National Gathering-Pilgrimage on August 2 and 3. The festival is dedicated to the 122nd anniversary of the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising and the 145th..

published on 8/2/25 5:35 AM

Temperatures begin to rise over the weekend

On Saturday minimum temperatures will range between 15 and 23° C., for Sofia 15° C. During the day the weather will be predominantly sunny, cumulus clouds will form around and after midday. There will be rain and thunder mostly in the mountain..

published on 8/1/25 6:35 PM