Peter Denchev
Education
2021 – PhD, Institute of Art Studies, BAS, Sofia, Professional Field 8.4. Theatre and Film Arts
2017 – Master’s Degree, National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA) “Krastyo Sarafov”, Sofia, Theatre Arts
2010 – Bachelor’s Degree, NATFA “Krastyo Sarafov”, Sofia, Stage directing
Occupation
2023 – present – Associate Professor, Theatre Department, Institute of Art Studies, BAS, Sofia
2020 – present – Stage Director, Stefan Kirov Drama Theatre, Sliven
2017 – 2018 – Dramaturge, Stoyan Bachvarov Drama Theatre, Varna
2010 – 2017 – Freelance practice as stage director
Joined the Institute of Art Studies in 2023, Assistant professort, PhD
Major Publications
(2025) Denchev, P. The Gesture and the Body: Rethinking Some of the Basic Approaches to Acting in the Historical Avant-Garde. CONCEPT, Vol. 29 No. 2 (2024), UNATC Press, 2025, ISSN: 2068-4444, DOI: https://doi.org/10.37130/ncacva56, pp. 175–195.
(2024) Denchev, P. Theatrical Space as Metonymy: Interactions between Directors and Scenographers. Problemi na izkustvoto, 3, Institute of Art Studies, BAS, 2024, ISSN: 0032-9371.
(2023) Denchev, P. The Development of Theatre Education. In: Bulgarian Theatre 1945–1989, Homo Ludens Foundation, 2023, ISBN: 978-619-90678-6-4, pp. 197–214.
(2023) Denchev, P. The Use and Function of Space in Theatrical Performance (from 1968 to the Present). Janet 45, 2023, ISBN: 9786191868117, 380 pp.
(2022) Denchev, P. The Changing Paradigms. Problemi na izkustvoto, 3, Institute of Art Studies, BAS, 2022, ISSN: 0032-9371, pp. 53–58.
(2022) Denchev, P. Mladen Mladenov – Theatrical Space in Transition. In: Art Studies Readings 2021. Module New Art: Personalities. Institute of Art Studies, BAS, 2022, pp. 116–124, ISSN: 0005-4283.
(2021) Denchev, P. “Music from Shatrovets” by Konstantin Iliev – The Path of the Play through Three Spaces. In: Problemi na izkustvoto, 3, 2021, pp. 27–30, ISSN: 0032-9371.
(2020) Denchev, P. Some Approaches to the Spatial Organization in the Directing Work of Stoyan Kambarev and Elena Tsikova in Tandem with Set Designers Violeta Radkova and Krasimir Valkanov. In: Art Studies Readings 2019. Module New Art: Motifs, Models, Sketches. Institute of Art Studies, BAS, 2020, pp. 497–503, ISSN: 0005-4283.
(2020) Denchev, P. Temporal Corridors: Creative Tandems between Directors and Scenographers in Bulgarian Theatre during the 1980s and 1990s. In: Art Studies Readings 2020. Module New Art: Journeys. Institute of Art Studies, BAS, 2021, pp. 259–265, ISSN: 0005-4283.
(2020) Denchev, P. Space as a Territory of Resistance. In: Problemi na izkustvoto, 3, 2020, pp. 42–47, ISSN: 0032-9371.
Research projects
The Actor in Bulgarian Theatre – Ideological, Pedagogical, and Aesthetic Projections (1956–1989), BAS, Institute of Art Studies (2025–2027).
The Actor in Bulgarian Theatre at the Border between the 1940s and 1950s: Ideological and Pedagogical Projections.BAS, Institute of Art Studies (2023–2025).
Lecture courses at universities
Directing, National Academy of Arts (since 2021)
Directing 2, National Academy of Arts (since 2022)
Fundamentals of Directing, NATFA “Krastyo Sarafov” (2024)
Main areas of scientific research: Bulgarian Theatre after 1944, Acting, Directing, Scenography and Performance Space, Theory and History of Directing and Theatrical Space
Research related activities
Theatre director in state and independent theatre; staged over 30 productions in major theatres in Bulgaria. His productions have been presented at various festivals and forums in Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Moldova, and Romania, and have been nominated for and awarded multiple national prizes.
Author of four novels and one short story collection. His literary works have been translated into German, English, Slovenian, Serbian, Farsi, and Macedonian.
© Foto Jana Lozeva
