The Ivan Vazov National Theatre of Bulgaria will debut in Japan with　“Caligula,” a masterpiece by the Nobel prize-winning French author Albert Camus about the mad, and bad, Roman emperor.

*Not recommended for children under the age of 16.

Today’s Republic of Bulgaria, which is located in the eastern Balkan mountains of southeastern Europe adjacent to Greece and Turkey, has throughout history been a crossroads between Asia and Europe.

The Ivan Vazov National Theatre of Bulgaria, whose name honors a poet and novelist known as “the Patriarch of Bulgarian literature,” was built in the capital city of Sofia in 1906.

Through its colorful and varied productions, the theatre is known as an artistic symbol of an exotic city sharing a mixture of eastern and western cultures.

Now, in 2022, the Ivan Vazov theatre makes its first visit to Japan to perform its popular repertoire program, Albert Camus’s daunting masterpiece, “Caligula,” presented by Bulgaria’s leading theatre director, Diana Dobreva.

As she brilliantly depicts the lonely Emperor Caligula’s emotional turmoil over what he regards as the ultimate absurdity of his own death, audiences at Shizuoka Arts Theatre will be invited to enter into the profound and magnificent world she creates.

Caligula, the third Roman Emperor, left the palace after his beloved sister Julia Drusilla died. But when he returned three days later, his character had changed dramatically from that of the former ideal leader to one who committed atrocities against everyone, whether the aristocracy or the common people.
Meanwhile, although everyone is frightened of the brutal Caligula, his mistress Caesonia tries to support him along with his loyal retainer Helicon. However, many aristocrats become angry with him and plan to kill the tyrant. Finally, despite realizing his life is in danger, Caligula cannot change his behavior as he rushes towards his ruin.

Written by Albert CAMUS
Directed by Diana DOBREVA
Bulgarian Translation & Stage Adaptation by Diana DOBREVA, Alexander SEKULOV
Stage & Costumes by Nina PASHOVA
Music by Petya DIMANOVA
Live Music Performer Yavor KARAGITLIEV
Choreography by Diana DOBREVA, Angelina GAVRILOVA
Lighting Design by Lalyo HRISTOV

Cast:
Deyan DONKOV, Vladimir PENEV, Joreta NIKOLOVA, Alexandra VASILEVA, Konstantin ELENKOV, Bilyana PETRINSKA, Vyara TABAKOVA, Zafir RADJAB, Stefan KASHEV, Elena PETROVA, Tsvetan PEYCHEV, Yavor VALKANOV, Dimitar DIMITROV, Slavena ZAYKOVA, Elitsa YOVCHEVA, Jaklin DASKALOVA, Stelian RADEV , Dimitar NIKOLOV, Nencho KOSTOV, Gergana ZMIYCHAROVA, Yavor KARAGITLIEV

Assistant Director: Zhivka BADEVA
Set Master: Dragomir TERZIEV, Marin KECHIDZHIEV
Props: Hubavena TODOROVA
Light: Massimo-Sava KISIOV
Sound: Boris NENOV, Yulian STOICHKOV
Costume: Teodora KIRILOVA
Make-up: Bilyana SAVEBA
Video operator: Nikolay VASILEV
Administration: Lora CHENAKOVA
General Manager: Marius DONKIN

＜Staff＞
Stage manager: HARAIKAWA Yukio
Stage: FURUYA Kazumi, YOU Kakin
Lighting: HIGUCHI Masayuki, TAKEZAWA Akira
Sound: MAKI Daisuke, HAYASHI Tetsuya, OTSUKI Minori
Wardrobe: SATO Rise

Interpretation: Yanko POPOV
Subtitle operation: MORIYAMA Marie
Subtitle: KEIMI Aoi (Translation by IWAKIRI Shoichiro)
Subtitle cooperation: Yanko POPOV
Supervisor of Subtitles: SONODA Shoko
Production: KEIMI Aoi, KITAHORI Ruka
Volunteers: FUJITA Yasushi

Technical director: MURAMATSU Atsushi
Lighting manager: HIGUCHI Masayuki
Sound manager: SAWADA Yukino

Under the auspices of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Japan　

◎Post-performance talk by the artists: 29 April

◎Pre-performance talk: Starting 25 minutes before each performance

* Not recommended for children under the age of 16.
* The front row of the audience seats for this program will be Row K. There will be a distance of more than 3m between the front row and the actors speaking on stage.
* Performers will appear on the stage only after having a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR test or antigen test.
* Please refrain from taking infants to the ordinary seats.