The voyages of the Self: between theatre and life in Bulgaria in the 21st century
The voyages of the Self: between theatre and life in Bulgaria in the 21st century

Summary/Abstract: The actors and spectators of documentary theatre in Bulgaria increasingly resemble enthusiastic voyagers. “Motion is a vital spark” in a memorable, socially engagedjourney that often happens away from the traditional theatre hall. The audience is not only an audience. Actors also are not only actors. They are all together in this, experiencing the same reality. The predominant tendency of documentary forms (such as verbatim and sensory theatre, promenade theatre/site-specific theatre) is to promote activity; theatre becomes a voyage, both literally and spiritually, creating a new environment, an unrepeatable space for “living”. These days, due to the coronavirus that has attacked the entire world, the main space in which we can experience this reality is online. The stage is now virtual, but the vital need for culture maintains hope and activity among artists and spectators alike, as reflected in the creation and viewing of online theatre performances.However, there are specific theatre approaches that cannot exist only online. Some works require our presence in the here and now; as we can see from a number of productions staged in Bulgaria before the pandemic. Such is the case with the international project 100% City, by the world-famous theatre company Rimini Protokoll. In this piece – 100 Bulgarian non-professional performers become “experts of the everyday”. “It is important that the voices of more and more people are heard and respected in 21st century” – Helgard Haug – one of the directors of Rimini Protokoll, told me. Another such work is the innovative promenade production Nonument, in which the audience plays an active role, walking a designated route and following an audio script. This work takes us on a provocative journey around the Buzludzha Monument, a house of the Bulgarian Communist Party. Now, when the whole world is threatened by Covid-19 and many theatres throughout the world remain closed, it is especially important to keep faith and stay active. It is, surely, better to watch theatre online than to have no theatre at all. It is still possible for us to be together, even through the theatre screen. The screen that is uniting us, indeed! It is as a space for rendezvous with a multitude of identities and for experiencing endless “voyages”.

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