In 1951, the Varna public invited the renowned puppeteer, scenographer and director Georgi Saravanov, who had laid the foundations of Plovdiv’s marionette theatre (1948), to found a puppet theatre in Bulgaria’s capital by the sea. He responded to the offer, came to Varna and made an acting troupe consisting of beginner actors, some of whom had graduated from music schools. In August 1952, the old auditorium of Varna Commune Theatre held the “The Duckling” puppet show by Nina Gernet and Tamara Gurevich with marionettes which Saravanov had made himself. His unique puppets from the first shows are kept in the Puppet Museum of the theatre.

 

The curiosity and joy with which the little spectators received the show pointed at the necessity of adding puppetry to Varna’s cultural life. Right after the success of “The Duckling” the theatre became a cultural institute under the Town People’s Council.

 

The Varna puppet theatre stages classical and contemporary plays for adults and children.

 

Here is Bulgaria’s only Puppet Museum, one of the few in Europe. It was founded in 1985. The exhibition displays nearly 140 puppets as well as décor elements.

 

State Puppet Theatre – Varna has its own art atelier where all puppets, costumes, props and decors of the theatre repertoire’s shows are made.

 

The theatre holds the Golden Dolphin International Puppet Festival. It takes place once every three years in the autumn.