On World Theatre Day, 27 March, the “Icarus” National Performing Arts Awards of the Union of Bulgarian Actors were presented. At a ceremony at the National Theatre, Prof. Nikolay Iordanov from the Theatre Department of the Institute of Art Studies of BAS received the award in the category of critical text for the book “The Bulgarian Dramaturgical Canon. Forming, Rearranging, Rereading” („Българският драматургичен канон. Формиране, пренареждане, препрочитане“), Sofia: Institute of Art Studies & Homo Ludens Foundation, 2024. The prize was awarded by the guild of theatre scholars and playwrights.
Nikolay Iordanov’s monograph aims to highlight those authors and titles in Bulgarian dramaturgy that have long-term validity in different historical situations and for diverse social groups. It traces the socio-cultural filters of recognition – theatrical, literary, educational, scientific, critical, etc. – that have imposed a set of dramaturgical works we perceive as “classical heritage”, “valuable archive”, “canon”. Seeking the universal validity of some of the most recognizable texts for the theatre, transcending the national context, the author offers updating readings of iconic titles of Bulgarian dramaturgy.
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Nikolay Iordanov is a theatre scholar, professor at the Institute of Art Studies and lecturer at NATFA “Kr. Sarafov”. He is the author of books, studies and numerous articles in specialized media on the problems of drama and theatre. The present book offers readers a historical insight into the formation of Bulgarian dramaturgical classics as well as his own perception of some of its emblematic titles.
