Burgas's Adriana Budevska Drama Theatre will hold the premiere of "Tatul" on Wednesday, 28 October, at 7pm. The play is based on Georgi Karaslavov's novel and directed by Bogdan Petkanin. The theatre announced it on 14 October and put tickets on sale that day. They are now sold out.

The novel is rarely staged. The last production was also in Burgas, in the 1964-1965 season, directed by Zharko Pavlovich. The book first came out in 1937–1938, and the film based on it dates from 1972.

What happened before: Burgas Drama Theatre stages Karaslavov's "Tatul" on October 28

The story is set in the early 20th century, in a Bulgarian family whose relations are tied to money and property. Its themes are crime, guilt and retribution.

Petkanin spoke to journalists on Tuesday, the day before the premiere. He said he wanted a title that readers and audiences had forgotten, and he thinks "Tatul" has been unfairly forgotten. Asked by BTA, the director called the punishment in the novel "biblical". He said the heroine has strong personal motives, but they do not excuse what she did.

"Of course nothing can justify a murder," Petkanin said. He said Karaslavov shows how the heroine reaches the crime in psychological terms. The punishment, he said, is not only justice but also the realisation that a moral line has been crossed.

Antoaneta Krastnikova plays Mariola. Petkanin said his choice of novel also depended on whether he could work with her, because of her experience, her impact and an age that suits the role. He calls the part a severe test for body and mind, as the actress hardly leaves the stage.

Lyuboslava Marinova plays the daughter-in-law, Toshka. The cast also includes Kaloyan Todorov, Stefan Ivanov, Asen Lozanov, Zlatko Angelov, Marin Apostolov, Boris Dikov, Tihomir Blagoev and Stoyan Pamukov. Maria Koleva designed the sets and costumes, and Damyan Popov is in charge of the music.

Petkanin has worked on the stage adaptation of Karaslavov's work and on the film script. He cut part of the political thread but kept its link to the era. He wants the story to be easy to follow today without changing its meaning, and to be told in an accessible, interesting way with modern means.

"The original source, the artist, is the great creator. I am only the storyteller of this thing," the director said.

Petkanin thinks Bulgarian drama has been returning strongly to repertory theatres for several seasons. He links this to the comedies and commercial shows that piled up in previous years. Those are not a problem, he said, because every genre has its audience, its need and its time.

Asked by BTA how he will draw audiences, the director said a title like this cannot rely only on popular actors or a promise of easy entertainment. A repertory theatre has a cultural and public mission beyond commercial success, he said. In this way the theatre also serves a state function, part of the "Bulgarian civic repertory function".

After the premiere, "Tatul" will play in Burgas on 18 November and 4 December. By the end of the year it will visit Gabrovo, Ruse and Shumen.

Petkanin previously staged Ivan Vazov's "Epic of the Forgotten" in Burgas and Elin Pelin's "The Gerak Family" in Ruse. Elin Pelin's novel "Earth" is among his next interests.