PUPPET FESTIVAL „SHARENO PETLE“ – PLEVEN
With the „Shareno Petle“ festival, the International Puppet Festival „People and Puppets“, whose running was interrupted 27 years ago, is being revived.
The „Shareno Petle“ festival is annual and presents the best achievements of professional puppet theatre.
I. VENUE
The „Shareno Petle“ festival is held in the city of Pleven every year in the first half of July, over a period of no fewer than four days.
II. ORGANISERS OF THE FESTIVAL
The festival is organised by the Municipality of Pleven and the "Ivan Radoev" Theatre – Pleven.
Professional theatre institutions, natural and legal persons who share the goals and ideas of the festival may be included as co-organisers. When certain activities are assigned to the co-organisers, contracts are concluded defining their rights and obligations.
The Mayor of the Municipality of Pleven appoints, by order, an Organising Committee to run the festival. The members of the committee are the director of the "Ivan Radoev" Theatre – Pleven, a representative of the Union of Artists in Bulgaria, a representative of BAROK, a puppeteer and experts from the „Culture“ department.
The chairman of the Organising Committee is the deputy mayor for culture or the head of the „Culture“ department of the Municipality of Pleven. The co-chairman for the creative organisation of the festival is the director of the "Ivan Radoev" Theatre.
The Organising Committee has the right to choose, or not, an external selector to choose the participants in the festival.
The Organising Committee takes all decisions related to the organisation and running of the festival by a simple majority.
The Organising Committee promotes the festival through media partnerships and a social-media profile.
III. SYMBOLS OF THE FESTIVAL
The name: Puppet Festival „Shareno Petle“ – Pleven
The logo of the festival
IV. FESTIVAL REGULATIONS
Only professional actors and troupes of all kinds and genres, working in the field of puppet art, may take part in the festival. Applicants who have taken part in festivals, with international or national awards, have priority for participation.
The festival is organised in two parts: performances and creative workshops. Applicants may take part with proposals for both modules.
The festival is non-competitive in character.
Applicants submit their proposal for participation in writing with the following documents:
1. An application form using the standard template;
2. A video recording of a performance or part of it;
3. An annotation of the performance;
4. Photographs and promotional materials;
5. A technical specification of the production using the standard template;
6. All documents for participation are submitted at the Citizen Service Centre, 4 „Vazrazhdane“ Square, by 15 May of the current year.
The "Ivan Radoev" Theatre – Pleven takes part in the festival programme by right.
V. FUNDING OF THE FESTIVAL
1. The festival is funded from the budget of the Municipality of Pleven.
2. The budget of the festival is included in the Cultural Calendar of the Municipality of Pleven and is approved by a Decision of the Municipal Council.
3. The Organising Committee provides additional funds from sponsorship.
4. The distribution of the finances is carried out by the Organising Committee and approved by the Mayor of the Municipality of Pleven.
5. The participants’ expenses – travel and fee – are covered by the organiser.
6. The expenses of participants from abroad – travel within the territory of Bulgaria and fee – are covered by the organisers.
7. The chairman of the Organising Committee concludes a contract with the theatre troupes.
8. The expenses related to participation in the festival are paid against a financial document.
9. Control over the spending of the funds is exercised by the Municipality of Pleven.
VI. ADDITIONAL CLAUSES
The Statute of the festival is drawn up by the Organising Committee and approved by the Mayor of the Municipality of Pleven.
The Statute of the festival is adopted by a decision of the Municipal Council – Pleven.
All questions related to the festival and not regulated in this Statute are resolved by the Organising Committee and the applicable legislation of the Republic of Bulgaria.
From 1 to 6 July 2025, the „Shareno Petle“ Puppet Art Festival for all ages will take place in Pleven for the eighth consecutive year.
This year too the programme will be rich and varied, with many surprises for all the audience.
The morning open-air performances will take place in the courtyard of the Regional Historical Museum, while the creative workshops and performances will be held in various spaces of the "Ivan Radoev" Drama and Puppet Theatre.
Advance registration to take part in the workshops and to collect invitations for the performances can be done at the theatre box office from 24 June 2025.
The festival is organised by the Municipality of Pleven together with the "Ivan Radoev" Drama and Puppet Theatre – Pleven and the „Art Office“ Foundation.
P R O G R A M M E 2025
1 July (Tuesday)
18:00 – Presentation of the new issue of „Kuklart“ magazine.
Exhibition by the set designer Emeliana Andonova-Toteva
"Ivan Radoev" Theatre – Chamber Stage
OPENING OF THE FESTIVAL
19:30 – „We Too Play Romeo and Juliet“ by the Sofia Puppet Theatre, a performance for family audiences 8+.
"Ivan Radoev" Theatre – Main Stage
21:00 – Stilt show
„Skrin“ Theatre.
Open air
2 July (Wednesday)
10:00 – „The Emperor’s New Clothes“ by „Hameleon“ Theatre, Plovdiv, a performance for children
Park of the Regional Historical Museum.
16:00 – Creative workshop for children with „Hameleon“ Theatre
"Ivan Radoev" Theatre
18:00 – „The Little Prince“ by „Karlson“ Theatre – Sofia, a performance for children 4+
"Ivan Radoev" Theatre – Chamber Stage
19:30 – „Winnie the Pooh“ by the Plovdiv Puppet Theatre, a performance for family audiences 5+
"Ivan Radoev" Theatre – Main Stage
3 July (Thursday)
10:00 – „Little Muck“ by the Stara Zagora Puppet Theatre, a performance for children
Park of the Regional Historical Museum
16:00 – Creative workshop for children with „Art Land“ Theatre
At the "Ivan Radoev" Theatre
18:00 – „The Fisherman and the Golden Fish“ (Belgium) by „Vlinders & Company“ Theatre, a performance for family audiences 4+
"Ivan Radoev" Theatre – Chamber Stage
19:30 – „A Boy and the Wind“ by the Ruse Puppet Theatre, a performance for family audiences 5+
"Ivan Radoev" Theatre – Main Stage
4 July (Friday)
10:00 – „Fraki the Little Penguin“ by „Vesel“ Theatre – Veliko Tarnovo, a performance for children
Park of the Regional Historical Museum
16:00 – „I Can“ – a performance for babies and children up to 4 by the Burgas Puppet Theatre
"Ivan Radoev" Theatre
18:00 – „Star Show“ by Cemal Fatih Polat (Turkey), a performance for family audiences
"Ivan Radoev" Theatre – Chamber Stage
19:30 – „Treasure Island“ by the Pleven Puppet Theatre, a performance for adults
"Ivan Radoev" Theatre – Main Stage
5 July (Saturday)
10:00 – „The Stars of the Circus“ by the „Arte Viva“ Foundation, a performance for children.
Park of the Regional Historical Museum
16:00 – Creative workshop for children with the "Ivan Radoev" Theatre – Pleven
At the "Ivan Radoev" Theatre
18:00 – „37 Matchsticks“ by OSAIK – 36 Monkeys, a performance for adults.
"Ivan Radoev" Theatre – Chamber Stage
19:30 – „The Fillyjonk – 20 Years Later“ by the Burgas Puppet Theatre, a performance for all ages
"Ivan Radoev" Theatre – Main Stage
6 July (Sunday)
10:00 – „Little Red Riding Hood“ by the Youth Theatre – Sofia, a performance for children
Park of the Regional Historical Museum