Violeta Atanasova Detcheva

Prof. Violeta Atanasova Detcheva, DSc is a Professor of Theatre Studies at the New Bulgarian University (since 2012) and at the Institute for Art Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (since 2011). She has served as a guest professor in Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, and other countries. Previously, she was a researcher at the Institute for Art Studies BAS (since 1994) and a guest lecturer at NATFIZ, SU "St. Kl. Ohridski," and NBU until 2001.

Prof. Detcheva received her education in Bulgarian philology at SU "St. Kliment Ohridski" and in Theatre Studies at NATFIZ "Kr. Sarafov." She defended her PhD dissertation in 1994 on actor concepts between the 19th and 20th century in German-speaking spaces and specialized at Freie Universitaet-Berlin. She earned her DSc (Doctor of Science) from BAS and defended another PhD in 2007 on directing between the two world wars.

Prof. Detcheva's research focuses on Theatre Theory and History of the 20th Century, with particular emphasis on the relationship between theatre and communism, national identity formation through theatrical representation, and the reception of German-language drama in Bulgaria. Her work explores how theatre participates in creating national images and interacts with political structures. She has made significant contributions to understanding the evolution of Bulgarian theatre between the two world wars and during the communist era, examining how theatrical practices both reflected and shaped societal transformations.

Her scholarly output reveals consistent engagement with political dimensions of theatre, particularly how theatrical practices navigate ideological constraints while maintaining artistic integrity. There's a clear trajectory in her work from historical analysis of specific periods to broader theoretical considerations of theatre's role in society, with recent publications addressing contemporary issues like pandemic impacts on theatrical practice and digital transformations in performance.

• DAAD Research Grant
• Advanced Akademia Scholarship
• RSS Scholarship
• Landis&Gyr Scholarship (Switzerland)

Prof. Detcheva has secured numerous individual research grants including DAAD, Advanced Akademia, and RSS fellowships, conducting research at Freie Universitaet-Berlin, University of Vienna, Central European University-Budapest, and Centre for Advanced Study-Sofia. She has participated in collective research projects across Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, and Switzerland. As a dedicated educator, she serves on thesis committees and has created NBU's New Play Competition to foster emerging playwrights. Her extensive conference participation and international collaborations demonstrate her commitment to advancing theatre scholarship globally.

Prof. Detcheva is actively involved in the international theatre community as a member of the International Federation for Theatre Research (IFTR) and the International Association of Theatre Critics (IATC). She served as theatre critic for "Kultura" newspaper until 2018 and continues to contribute to editorial boards of specialized publications in arts and culture. Her leadership in organizing academic events and competitions, particularly NBU's New Play Competition which she founded and directs, demonstrates her commitment to bridging academic research with contemporary theatrical practice.