The first opening show of a 19th century play directed by John Malkovich was performed in an almost empty Sofia National Theatre after furious protesters annoyed with the way Bulgarians were portrayed barred visitors from entering the building.
An hour before the opening of George Bernard Shaw’s Arms and The Man on Thursday evening, protesters reportedly began to gather in front of the theatre, according to a report by Nova TV made on its website.
The TV further reported that these protesters had held a big banner that read: “Without anti-Bulgarian plays at the National Theatre” and threw garbage bags, spat and physically attacked Oscar-nominated animator Theodore Ushev when he tried entering the theatre.
Some protesters even made attempts to force their way into the building but were pushed back by security, a Bulgarian media revealed. To avoid further conflict, the theatre management shut it down, only allowing few journalists inside to watch the much controversial performance.
The play is essentially a comedy featuring a love story during a conflict between Bulgaria and Serbia but critics in Bulgaria claimed that Shaw presents the Bulgarian soldiers as cowardly and unworthy, and Bulgarians as people who were dirty –bathing once in their lives– and illiterate, according to Nova TV.
Meanwhile, Malkovich had said after the play was performed;
“It is quite an odd reaction. More and more people love to censor things they don’t agree with.”
The play is billed to be shown in the theatre on Friday evening as well.
