Balgarianovinite.com The first purpose-built theatre building in Bulgaria was formally opened to the entire public on the eve of 1891, said Gabriela Stoycheva, Chief Expert at the local state archive department, speaking to BTA in an interview.
The earliest evidence of theatrical activity in the town dates from 1879, when the newspaper Slavyanin published information about the establishment of a charitable theatre society called Vida. With Bulgaria just liberated from Ottoman Turkish rule in 1876, without state support and amid serious economic hardships, the intelligentsia of Vidin took the bold risk of building a true “Temple of the Muses”, Stoycheva stressed. After more than a decade of donations, charitable performances and active public support, the building was completed in 1890, she said.
According to documents preserved in the Vidin archive, the theatre building in the town was the first in the country designed in the European manner specifically for theatrical purposes. It was the work of a German architect, though his name is unknown. The original interior of the auditorium resembled that of La Scala in Milan in its layout, with boxes and a gallery. The seats above the boxes in the gallery were arranged in an amphitheatre. The first row in the galleries beneath the balcony consisted of 12 boxes – six on the left and six on the right – and in the middle, directly opposite the stage, was the “central” or “royal” box. Each box had six chairs, while the “central” one had 12. The theatre roof had glazed sections. Lighting was provided by gas lamps and heating by two large stoves, Stoycheva explained.
She also pointed out an interesting detail. The opening of the theatre sparked a scandal that cost Dimitar Balev, the most dedicated figure behind the theatre’s construction, his position. A number of local notables – the mayor, members of parliament and other political sympathizers of the ruling party – insisted that the opening should take place with special invitations for a selected group of citizens. Displeased, Balev opposed this “unworthy” proposal and suggested that the opening should be held in the most solemn manner with the participation of the entire public, thereby giving the undertaking a genuinely popular character.
This led to a lively dispute in which renowned politician Naicho Tsanov also took part. In the end, after lengthy debates and a vote, Dimitar Balev’s view prevailed and the theatre was opened on the eve of the new year 1891 with general invitations to all citizens of Vidin. Subsequently, Balev was dismissed from his post, but by a twist of fate he became the theatre’s saviour. The large debts to private individuals left after the building’s construction could not be paid and the theatre was put up for sale for BGN 10,000, Stoycheva said. She added that, as Mayor of Vidin, Balev bought back the theatre on behalf of the municipality, ensuring that the building would remain forever in use for the cultural needs of the public. Bulgaria’s Oldest Theatre House Opened in Vidin on Eve of 1891 2025 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2025-12-31 13:29:46 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
