About the Place
The "Ivan Vazov" National Theatre is the oldest and most authoritative theatre in Bulgaria and one of the important landmarks of Sofia. Established in 1904 by the accomplished artists of the Salza i Smyah company, it initially bore the straightforward title of the National Theatre. The theater's architectural design, a splendid example of Neoclassicism, was crafted by the famed Viennese theater architects Hermann Helmer and Ferdinand Fellner. However, it was subsequently renamed in honor of the renowned writer Ivan Vazov. Following a major fire in 1923, the building of the National Theatre underwent a five-year process of renovation, when it received its present look, designed by the architect Martin Dülfer.
In 1928 it was opened for shows with brand new technical stage equipment installed by the German companies Mann and Krupp. During World War II the southern facade was bombed and the 2nd balcony was half destroyed, but subsequently rebuilt. The interior was last renovated in the mid-70s. Both the exterior and the interior are preserved in their original form, including the silk wallpaper, the marble lobbies and the gilded elements around the stage and on the facade.
The Ivan Vazov National Theatre boasts a well-appointed primary stage with a seating capacity of 750, complemented by a smaller stage accommodating 120 spectators and an additional 70-seat stage on the fourth floor. The theater's façade is prominently featured on the obverse side of the Bulgarian 50 levs banknote, issued in 1999 and 2006. Over the years, it has played host to productions by celebrated theater directors, including Lilia Abadjieva.