In twenty fourteen, sixty-five years have passed since the creation of Yambol drama theatre. It was founded on the eighth of October, ninety forty-nine, with its first play “Royal Mercy” by Kamen Zidarov. Dimitar Keranov was appointed as manager and director. The community center gave the theater a room on its second floor, together with all the costumes and stage property, used by the amateur performers up to that moment. But, in order to find out how the theatre art developed in Yambol, we should go back to eighteen seventy, when the very popular at the time play “Long-suffering Ganoveva” was presented here.

Almost like in Vasov’s description, the performance in Yambol was set in the atmosphere of a general spiritual upsurge. An event of utmost importance for the nation had just taken place – the recognition of Bulgarian exarchate.  The actors were revolutionists, theatrical figures, and teachers. All of them were overwhelmed by ardent dedication and the performance was extremely good. That was the time when the first female actress in Bulgaria – Matilda Popovich began her artistic career, and the periodical theater press was started. At the beginning of the twentieth century Yambol audience began meeting travelling companies of actors.

In nineteen twenty, join-stock theatre was founded, which put the beginning of the organized theatre work in the town.

Soon, all professional and amateur actors and theatre figures appealed for the creation of a municipal theatre with its own building.  At the same time Strashimir Krinchev developed his work as a theatre critic. The poet Vassil Karagiozov wrote the libretto “The secrets of Vardar”, and the artist Ivan Slavov painted the first theatre curtain.

In nineteen twenty-two, Yambol became the seat of the South Bulgarian theatre. It opened the season with the play “Tosca”, and the theatre house was literally packed with people.

In nineteen twenty-seven, a permanent theatre group was created, which later, in nineteen thirty-nine, was renamed to Yambol municipal theatre. Exactly ten years afterwards, the theatre became a professional institute.

In the period between nineteen forty-nine and nineteen eighty-nine, the theatre repertoire was forced to follow the socialist regime. The main topics were related to anti-fascist struggle, socialist development, and the life of the cooperative farmers.

Nevertheless, Yambol theatre established the tradition to open each season with a Bulgarian play. Some of the performances: “Geratzite”, “In honour of the epaulet”, “Burning Love” were presented for the first time on this stage. Together with the revolutionary plays, some classical authors were presented, such as Moliere, Gogol, and Shakespeare.

On the first of January, nineteen fifty-two, Yambol theatre was renamed to State Drama theatre. However, the joy of the people of Yambol was clouded in nineteen sixty-four, when the theatre was closed with a decree of the Council of Ministers. The reason for that was the proximity of the town of Sliven, where there was also a theatre. The theatre was re-established on the eight of august, nineteen sixty-nine.

The list of the directors, actors, playwrights, and artists, who worked in the theatre and who left part of themselves here, is enormous. Krustju Sarafov, Konstantin Kisimov, Lubomir kabakchiev, Georgi Partzalev, Nikola Anastasov and many others. The first lady of the Bulgarian cinema – Nevena Kokanova started her development as an actress here, too. It was in nineteen fifty-six when she played the part of Finessa in “Cunning Lover”. The theatre has preserved the costume, in which she played Abby in “Love under the Elm trees”. Today Yambol theatre is named after her. Since twenty twelve, an honorary diploma “Barefoot Juliet” has been awarded for the actresses’ debut on Yambol stage.  This is the way Yambol people revere their favourite Nevena.

The history of Yambol theatre is interesting and circumstantial, but the important thing is that it has managed to preserve its excited audience, to sustain a permanent company of actors, to take care of a repertoire, which adds to the spiritual life of the town.