site.btaDirector Declan Donnellan and Set Designer Nick Ormerod Visiting National Theatre, Preparing First Project with Bulgarian Troupe

Director Declan Donnellan and set designer Nick Ormerod will be guests at the Ivan Vazov National Theatre as part of the World Theatre in Sofia platform.The Bulgarian premiere of Life is a Dream (La Vida es Sueno), the latest production by Cheek by Jowl's, the company founded by Donnellan and Ormerod in London four decades ago, will take place on June 15. It will be performed in Spanish, with subtitles in Bulgarian and English.

On this project, the two worked with the troupe of the Madrid National Classical Theatre Company. Together, they offer their reading of Calderón de la Barca's (1600-1681) iconic play from the 17th century, also called the "Spanish Golden Age," with its underlying themes of free will, fate, and the mystery of life, said the Ivan Vazov National Theatre.

Life is a Dream centres aroind a prince chained to a mountain and a young woman disguised as a man who seeks revenge. The themes of the play are revolution, love, murder. Together with the actors of one of the leading Spanish troupe, Donnellan and Ormerod create an impressive performance that was a success on international stages, added the National Theatre.

The performance won the Talia Award (2023) for Supporting Actress (Goisalde Nunez) and a nomination for Supporting Actor (Ernesto Arias), as well as a nomination for the Spanish theatre award Premios Max (2023) for leading male role (Alfredo Noval).

The National Theatre added that Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod are already preparing their first theatre project with a Bulgarian troupe, which will take place on the big stage of the National Theater next season.