The "Borislav Chakrinov" Competition for Young Directors in Burgas

20.10.2025 | Burgas

The second "Borislav Chakrinov" competition for young directors in Burgas has been announced. The winner will stage a performance in the Chamber Hall and receive a prize of 6000 leva. The premiere is expected in 2026.

Снимка от Edward Kimmel from Takoma Park, MD, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Participants in the second edition of the competition, named after one of the most emblematic directors and long-time director of the "Adriana Budevska" Drama Theatre – Borislav Chakrinov, will compete with performances of plays by Harold Pinter, Eugène Ionesco and Mary Jones. The event, promising exciting dramatic challenges, is in preparation, generating expectations in theatrical circles.

The competition, held under the patronage of the Mayor of Burgas Municipality, is conceived as a springboard for young directors, giving them the opportunity to realize their first professional step – staging their graduation performance on the stage of the "Adriana Budevska" Drama Theatre. The ambition is to give impetus to young talents, opening the doors to the professional stage.

A commission attended the official opening of the submitted applications, which monitored the procedure for receiving and reviewing the projects. The commission consisted of Diana Savateva – Deputy Mayor for Culture and actresses Dimitrina Teneva and Pepa Nikolova. From the very beginning of the competition, they started reviewing the proposals, ready to assess the potential of the future directors.

The competition is organized in two separate rounds, each of which is key to the selection of a winner. The atmosphere is tense as the candidates compete in presenting their creative visions.

In the first stage, the candidates will present their proposals anonymously. They will have to send an application, a declaration of consent and a dramatic material suitable for a chamber stage, accompanied by a director_q_s explication of up to five pages. This will ensure maximum objectivity in the assessment of ideas, focusing on the essence of the creative approach.

In the second round, the classified participants will have the opportunity to present a short presentation and will hold an interview with the jury. After in-depth discussion and voting, the two finalists will be determined.

The winner will be awarded a diploma and a cash prize of 6000 leva, provided by Burgas Municipality. In addition, he will have the opportunity to stage his graduation performance in the "Apostol Karamitev" Chamber Hall with the cast of the theater. The production will be included in the official program of the theater and in the cultural program of the municipality for 2026. The second finalist will receive a prize of 1000 leva.

The winner is expected to start rehearsals in January 2026, and the premiere of the performance to be realized by April of the same year. This schedule aims to ensure the timely realization of creative projects.

With the "Borislav Chakrinov" competition, Burgas not only pays tribute to the outstanding director, but also establishes a platform for the next generation of theatrical artists – young people who will continue the tradition of strong drama theater in the city. The event represents an important investment in the future of theatrical art, guaranteeing its development.