Bulgarian Stage Takes Over Rome

The Plovdiv Drama Theatre is bringing a powerful double feature to Italy this month. On June 9 and 10, the company will stage two acclaimed adaptations of works by Alessandro Baricco at the Teatro Brancaccio in Rome. These performances mark a significant cultural export for the Bulgarian theatre scene, showcasing contemporary European storytelling on an international stage.

The production features Diana Добрева, one of the most recognizable directors in modern European theatre. Her distinctive visual language transforms literature into a magnetic experience of imagery, music, and movement. This tour represents a rare opportunity for Roman audiences to witness the poetic intensity of Baricco’s narratives through a fresh, physical lens.

Bloodless: The Weight of Revenge

On June 10, the audience will experience Bloodless (Senza sangue). Dramatized by Alexander Sekulov, this piece centers on Nina, the sole survivor of her family’s brutal massacre. Decades later, she confronts Tito, one of the men involved in the crime. Their meeting becomes a deep exploration of an ancient human dilemma: does revenge bring salvation, or does true freedom come from letting go?

The stage brings this question to life through an unusual blend of theatre, dance, and music. The production tells not just a story of violence and memory, but of love as the final possibility for healing. Words serve as both weapons and bridges toward reconciliation. It is a visceral examination of whether hatred can ever truly be washed away.

Silk: A Love Between Dream and Reality

A day earlier, on June 9, the mood shifts to the gentle, contemplative world of Silk (Seta). The story follows a French merchant traveling to Japan in search of silkworms. There, he falls silently in love with a mysterious young woman, experiencing a romance that remains forever suspended between reality and dream. The performance recreates Baricco’s delicate poetry through a harmonious mix of music, visual imagery, and movement.

This play explores the longing for something never possessed and the fragility of human desire. It is a quiet, haunting piece that contrasts sharply with the intensity of Bloodless.

Why Baricco Matters

Alessandro Baricco, born in Turin in 1958, is one of the most read and translated contemporary Italian authors. A writer, essayist, and playwright, he gained global fame with novels like Silk, Bloodless, Ocean Sea, Novecento, and Mr. Gwyn. His works are translated into dozens of languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. His style is known for its musicality and poetic ability to turn simple stories into deep philosophical reflections on love, memory, and loneliness.

Diana Добрева, the director behind these productions, studied at NATFIZ in Sofia. She began as an actress in the Sfumato theatre workshop before establishing herself as a director with a clear artistic signature. Her debut with Medea attracted European critical attention and won a critics’ award at the Avignon Festival. Since 2017, she has worked extensively with the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, creating some of the most discussed productions in the last decade.