50 Years Of UNIMA – Bulgaria (1963 – 2013)

Prof. Slavcho Malenov We publish with significant cuts the report of Prof. Slavcho Malenov, presented on the 27th of September 2013 in Stara Zagora, during the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of UNIMA - Bulgaria.

Namely, the Czech immigrants estab- 1 Jindrich` ` Vesely ` What is UNIMA? (1885-1939) – a poet UNIMA - Union Internationale de lished the first brass bands in the coun- and a playwright, the la Marionnette is a non-governmental try and are the main initiators and ac- first editor-in-chief of „Loutkar“`` ` . organization under the auspices of tivists for the establishment of the cul- ture house “Slavianska beseda” (“Slavic 2 Malikova, Nina, UNESCO that gathers people from all Historie UNIMA over the world, willing to contribute to Talk”) 1929-1999 http:// the development of the art of , The first building of “Slavianska unima .idu cz/cs/his. - Beseda” (1910), on “Rakovski” Street, the torie-unima-1929-1999 with the goal to use this art in the pur- 3 Central Military Club can also be seen on Konstantin Josef suit of universal values such as peace Jirecek` ` (24 July 1854- the picture. and mutual understanding between the 1918), a Czech histo- During the 19th century national rian, politician, diplo- people regardless of their race, political, mat, and Slavist . He liberation movements against the religious or cultural differences, in ac- was the founder of German and Hungarian assimilation the Bohemian cordance with the respect of the funda- led by intellectuals, were raising forces Balkanology and the mental human rights, as defined in the Byzantine studies . Екатерина Базилевич in the Czech Republic and the present United Nations Universal Declaration Jirecek` ` was a minister Ekaterina Bazilevich territory of Slovakia . In these countries, in the government of of Human Rights, dating back to the the Principality of th essayist, publisher and Paul puppetry began to engage leading cul- Bulgaria . 10 of December 1948 . tural figures . Prominent Czech artists of How was UNIMA established? Jeannes said in his speech, that since they 4 Ivan Mrkvicka` ` had gathered there – from al- the time contributed to the national (Czech, also Jan “In comparison with other European revival and designed a number of small Vaclav` Mrkvicka` ` ; countries, Czechoslovakia was known most all parts of Europe, they should take Bulgarian: Иван the advantage to create something like an “family puppet theaters” . So the par- Мърквичка) (23 worldwide as “the Paradise of the Puppets” ents could present to their children April 1856 – 16 May international puppet theater community. because of its unique features – two maga- stories in their native language, as an 1938) was a Czech And probably he suggested the name painter and an active zines, companies producing puppets, spe- opposition of the officially imposed “Union Internationale des Marionnettes”, contributor to the cialty stores for puppets, in which versions German and Hungarian . The Puppet artistic life of newly pronounced as UNIMA. liberated Bulgaria of puppet plays studies and texts for ama- Theatre began to be used as an educa- The proposal was received with loud in the late 19th and teur puppeteers in schools were issued, tional and instructive art . early 20th century . courses, exhibitions, as well as, the very applauses. Then a regular meeting was The struggle against the five centu- He is regarded as one held. The participants adopted unani- of the founders of the professional puppet theater of Josef Skupa, ries Turkish assimilation and oriental- modern Bulgarian etc. mously the first major proposals, in particu- ism incitement of the Ottoman Empire fine art tradition . The puppeteers of Czech Republic and lar the statute of UNIMA. French became was essentially similar to the struggles of 5 Jaroslav Frantisek` ` ` ` ` ` Slovakia met in in May 1929. the working language and Dr. Jindrich the Czech intellectuals to defend their Julius Vesin th 1, 2 (Bulgarian:` Ярослав The Congress was held from the 18 Vesely was elected as the First President national identity . In 1892, in Sofia, a Вешин, Yaroslav till the 20th of May in the lecture hall of of UNIMA small home puppet theater of the Czech Veshin) (23 May 1860 – 9 May 1915) the Central City Library. The program of What is the situation family Proshek presented their perfor- was a Czech painter the three-day meeting was supplemented by in our country? mances, which enjoyed great success . who mainly worked The development of Bulgarian in Bulgaria and who performances and tours of leading theaters, In 1893 in Sofia, the Association of the was distinguished local and foreign guests. Puppet Theatre was a part of a world- Czech Immigrants established a new as a master of genre On Monday, the 20th of May the wide revival of the genre during the puppet theater . painting . The realistic th th depiction of battle guests made a visit to a representative ama- 19 and 20 century . Without ignor- These events provoked the interest scenes from the First teur theater called “In the Kingdom of the ing countries with long traditions in of Bulgarian cultural circles . The first Balkan War (1912) are the subject of a Puppets” created by the sculptor Vojtech puppetry, for Bulgaria, the presence of manifestation of organized Bulgarian substantial part of his Sucharda. After a tour around the facilities immigrants from Russia, Poland, Puppet Theater took place in March work . on the stage and the demonstrations of Hungary, and especially from 1924 in Sofia . As a result, within the 6 Jiri Proshek (also equipment and techniques for stage light- Czechoslovakia was really important . members of “Slavianska Beseda” known as George Proshek) is a Czech ing, the participants gathered in the club The Czechs participated actively in Association was born the idea to estab- engineer and on the ground floor together with guests the cultural life in Bulgaria before and lish a professional puppet theater . Main entrepreneur who has spent the majority from Belgium, Bulgaria, , after the Liberation of Ottoman Yoke figures in it were: Arch . Atanas Donkov, of his life in Bulgaria Yugoslavia, Germany, Poland, Austria, (1878) . It is enough to mention the the artists Alexander Bojinov and with his brother - Romania and the Soviet Union. names of Konstantin Jirechek3, Jan Elisaveta Konsulova-Vazova . Bogdan Proshek and his cousins Josef and There, in the inspiring atmosphere of (Ivan) Mrkvichka4, Yaroslav Veshin5, Elisaveta Konsoulova-Vazova is the Vaclav Proshek . Jiri the meeting, the unforgettable French poet, the Proshek’s6 family and many others . wife of Boris Vazov (the youngest Proshek was born 22 брой 7/2013 23

The Puppet Fairy Куклената фея на Екатерина Czechoslovakia, UNIMA resumed its in 1847 . In 1871 he Базилевич arrived in Bulgaria work within the Congress in Prague af- and worked on the ter World War II . construction of the In 1958 Margareta Niculescu - a railway line in Thrace . After the Liberation, young director and manager of Theater he was the architect Tsandarika, became the initiator and of the municipality of Sofia (1879-1881) organizer of the new post-war congress and worked on the in , accompanied by a large first master plan of international festival under the auspices the city . Later, he was chief engineer of UNIMA . The next two festivals in of the department Bucharest were in 1960 and 1965 . of public buildings (1881-1885) . Together These initiatives led to an incredible with his brother , excitement in the puppet theater circles Bogdan Proshek they in Europe and in the world . People founded in 1879 the first printing house started talking about a Contemporary, in Sofia in 1884 - Modern Puppet Theatre . The Bulgarian Brewery “ Proshek”, brother of the great Bulgarian poet and Piccoli” in 1931 provoked the attention the largest in the participation was crucial to the overall city at that time , writer Ivan Vazov), who at that time of the actor Stefan Penchev to create posterior development of this art in our which later became was a chairman of “Slavianska Beseda” the first puppet theater for adults that country . The first forum in Bucharest a ceramic factory . Jiri Proshek is one and provided a strong support for the he called “The Bulgarian Teatro dei actually made the artists from Bulgaria of the founders of formation of this first Bulgarian puppet Piccoli”, which unfortunately existed see the light of new opportunities that “Slavic talk” and the troupe . only one year . Bulgarian engineering had emerged for the puppet theater . and architectural Later Boris Vazov was sent as min- In 1942 a new puppet theater was Despite the unsuccessful presentation company . ister plenipotentiary in Prague and created to the “The Teachers Fund” in of the performance “The Boy and the 7 Ekaterina Bazilevich Elisaveta Konsulova-Vazova took an Sofia . Its director was the journalist Wind” in 1958, this event highly moti- born 24 XІ. .1889 in active part in the founding Congress of Kiril Batembergski . It worked with the vated the young artists in the Central Kharkov, Russia ,. dead 19 .ІІ .1940 - UNIMA in May 1929 in Prague . puppets from “Bulgarian Teatro dei Puppet Theater and two years later, dur- Sofia . A Russian In regard with this event, postcards Piccoli”, but it used the repertoire from ing the Second Festival (1960), the win- actress in Bulgaria in were issued . One of them shows Mrs . the Artistic Puppet Theatre in 1921 . ners were the Bulgarians: Liliana Husband Gregory E . Vazova with two puppets in national “Slavianska Beseda” . The Theatre of Docheva (Director of “Rabbit School”), Zipalov Bazilevich dresses . Batembergski existed as a commercial Nikolina Georgieva & Atanas Ilkov born in Russia (?), dead 1941in Sofia . The next card shows some of the company until 1952 without any subsi- (Directors of “Peter and the Wolf”) . Artist in Bulgaria founders of UNIMA . dies .8 (Picture) since 1921, head of On the front side the names of A New Professional “Peter and the Wolf”, after the sym- the puppet theater in Sofia (1930-1941), a Hadji from Turkey, Buke from Germany, Development of Bulgarian phonic tale by Sergei Prokofiev. student of famous Piotr Bogatiryov from Russia, Dr . Puppet Theater Staging At. Ilkov and N. Georgieva, Russian puppeteer Ivan Afinogenovich Jndrzih Vesely from the Czech Republic, After the World War II a favorable Scene J. Licheva and arch. Iv Conev. Zaytsev (1863-1936) Elisaveta Konsoulova-Vazova from environment for the development of The performance of “Peter and the Victor Zipalov – a Bulgaria and others are clearly legible . the art of puppet theater came on . The Wolf” was particularly impressive . A son of Ekaterina Bazilevich, a longtime Obviously, this event had a reso- Communist government considered modern production, after the music of stage director of nance in Bulgaria because in the same theater as an institute of ideological ed- Sergei Prokofiev . The relativity and plas- Puppet Theater to year the Ministry of Education officially ucation and the state took full care of ticity of the puppets with geometric Slavianska beseda 8 Prof . Dr .Sc . Elena recognized the Puppet Theatre to its development . shapes attracted the attention . Vladova , “Blessing “Slavianska Beseda” and chose the ac- In 1946 the first two major new Complemented by the energetic hand for Puppets” Sofia, tress of Russian origin Ekaterina professional puppet theaters were estab- of the actor, they offered bright, expres- 1997 Nikolaevna Bazilevich7 as its artistic lished: in Sofia, today known as the sive movements . Surprisingly, the guns director . Capital Puppet Theatre, under the lead- of the hunters were just pipes, and the In 1933 Ekaterina Bazilevich re- ership of Mara Penkova, and in Plovdiv, cat and the wolf were made of springs . leased a biweekly newspaper “Puppet today known as the State Puppet The viewer was captivated, not by fol- Theatre”, which represented an increas- Theatre, under the leadership of George lowing the storyline, but by the thrill to ing active attitude . She introduced a Saravanov . interpret the pictorial symbolic message new character on the puppet stage, a As a result, the need to achieve a in the musical narrative . living person – “The Puppet Fairy” development of the professional puppet Exactly this success gave confidence (staging her daughter), which supported art in Bulgaria was confirmed . In the to the young Ilkov, Conev and the communication between the audi- period 1946-1990 twenty state and two Georgieva to continue their work, ence and the puppets . The Artistic municipal puppet theaters were estab- related to the modern theater . In the Puppet Theatre actually existed until lished and they created their wide audi- autumn of 1962 they admitted the first her death in 1940 . ence . class at the Higher Institute for Theatre The tour in Bulgaria of the famous About UNIMA Again and Film Arts, now (NATFA) . It was Vittorio Podreka with “Teatro dei In 1957, again on the initiative of the beginning of the Higher Education 24 брой 7/2013 25

Мара Пенкова Георги Сараванов Николина Георгиева Евгени Фабиани Mara Penkova George Saravanov Nikolina Georgieva Euguen Fabiani

of Puppetry in Bulgaria . In the Academy These words of Bill Baird spoke First International Festival of the 9 Marjorie Batchelder they began to develop and instruct a volumes about the respect that UNIMA Bulgarian puppet play “The Golden McPharlin (1903–97) was an important new, specific puppet theater inspired, with its strict criteria . Dolphin” was inaugurated in the town American puppeteer aesthetics, which gave a direct impact Nikolina Georgieva would be our of Varna . and authority on the longtime representative in the world A great merit for that had the long- puppet theater . Her on the subsequent generations of artists, two best known pup- as well as the overall development of the organization as a member of the standing theater manager of Varna petry productions Bulgarian Puppet Theater . Executive Committee, along with Puppet Theater - Yordan Todorov . He were Aristophanes’ th The Birds (1933) and During the 7 Congress of prominent figures of the puppetry as made this festival one of the most Maeterlinck’s The UNIMA in in 1962 Nikolina Sergei Obrazcov, Michael Meshke, prestigious events in Europe at that Death of Tintagiles Eddy Mayaron, Irina Zharovtseva, time . In order to maintain a high (1937) . She was the Georgieva was elected as a member of author of many the Presidium of UNIMA . This event Penny Francis and other important artistic level it was decided that this books on puppetry, set a new beginning of the Bulgarian names, as those who are seen in the prominent forum should be hold once including The Puppet Theatre Handbook . participation in this world organization picture: Henryk Jurkowski, Meher in every three years, so that during that She was the second and became the reason for the creation Contractor, Taiji Kawadjiri and time it could become possible to honorary president of Margareta Niculescu (Picture) whose provide high quality stage works, the Puppeteers of of a Bulgarian national center . America . Marjorie The UNIMA Festivals in the 60s, contact rose to a long-standing which would be competitive in the was also the creator with their open discussions, became a friendship . race . of the hand-rod pup- With her great reputation and pet which was a style global criterion for quality . As an The UNIMA in Bulgaria set very Jim Henson took up evidence of this stood the words of Bill respect as a pedagogue and an artist, strict requirements . As a result in the for the muppets . Baird, one of America’s most popular she has contributed both to the prestige first two editions of the festival, the 10 “Excerpts from of the Bulgarian Puppet Theater in a prestigious Grand Prix “The Golden Bill Baird’s letter to puppeteers in the world at that time . Marjorie McPharlin, His career encompassed fifty years, and world aspect and the development of Dolphin” was not awarded . This clearly February 13, 1968 . he contributed to all the aspects of the the international puppetry demonstrated the responsibility for the theater world - nightclubs, tours and collaboration . values ​​and the achievements of the trade shows, and vaudeville stage, The Secretariat of the Bulgarian World Puppet Tendency . television and feature films and musicals Centre of UNIMA was placed in the on Broadway . In 1962 he was on a tour International office of the Union of Bulgarian Actors . with his troupe in India, Nepal and Over the time, she and Euguen Afghanistan, and in 1963 - in Russia . Fabiani managed to get a bud- Here’s what he wrote in a letter to get for the international activi- Marjorie Mac Pharlin9 on the 13th of ties . All the professional the- February in 1968: aters in the country as well as “.... In our rich country anybody can many individual members be- be a puppeteer and have a company. And came collective members of more power to the principle – but when we the Bulgarian Centre of show our face to the public we must be UNIMA . selective. I say that our festivals or As a result of its interna- performances where the public is concerned tional membership, the au- must be filtered--preferably by a UNIMA thority of the puppet commu- committee. …Otherwise we constantly run nity in the country was in- the risk of our pitiable showing at creasing . In October 1972 the Васил Апостолов 10 Йордан Тодоров Bucharest ”. Yordan Todorov Vassil Apostolov 24 брой 7/2013 25

The Bulgarian centre of UNIMA Committee . Upon her proposal, the created many contacts and exchange UNIMA Congress elected Slavcho agreements with friendly countries such Malenov as a member of the Executive as Russia, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Committee . Thus, Bulgaria would con- the GDR . The budgeted funds were tinue to be represented in this presti- invested annualy, and the Executive gious organization for two more man- Board decided to send our distin- dates (up to 1996) . guished actors, directors and stage de- In the following years the Bulgarian signers at the festivals in these countries, Center of UNIMA followed the beaten as well as to short specializations in the track of its founders . Some of the art- International Puppet Theatre Institute ists however looked on the center as in Charleville-Mezieres, France . The on a travel agency, which provided lucky artists were paid the travel, ac- access to attractive destinations . The commodation and subsistence costs . collection of dues was of particular The Bulgarian Centre of UNIMA difficulty . The usual tease was: evaluated and sent the best performanc- “Why should I pay if you do not es to represent our country in the send me anywhere?”, “What does world, particularly strict was the selec- UNIMA give to me, so that I tion for presenting Bulgaria at the should pay?”, etc . They didn’t World festivals, accompanying the understand that the member- UNIMA Congresses every four years . ship was not related to per- The 1970s were a golden period . sonal gain but to a commit- The achievements of Bulgarian Puppet ment . Theater were innumerable . A big num- While the office was at the Union ber of international festivals were re- of Bulgarian Actors and there was a spected because of the high level of the strict budget, the things were going well, So to say, a harrowing of hell be- performances with interesting creative but in the early 90s changes occurred . gan and the absurdity to explain to solutions, troupe harmony and global- The building of the Union was everyone who are you, how are you, ization . Bulgaria was hosting the meet- restituted, the budget was cut and the what do you fight for . Thanks to the ings of the administrative structures of Centre thrown on the streets, without a intervention of my best colleague Zlati UNIMA, which was again an expres- permanent address, without phones Zlatev to the Vice . Minister Polyakov, sion of the increasing authority of our and with no means, even with no (then Minister was Mrs . Emma country . ability to pay the international dues of Moskova (1997)), the petition of the Maybe today this does not surprise 400$ . center was answered and the Ministry anyone, but in the time of political In 1991/92, our beloved Professor decided to pay the membership dues . stagnation in the enclosed space of the Elka Konstantinova was the new But that lasted shortly – only until socialist camp, in the context of the Minister of Culture in the Union of the 2001 . Cold War and the Iron Curtain, it was Democratic Forces . She listened and The participation in the forums of thanks to UNIMA that the Bulgarian responded immediately to our call for UNIMA was possible only at the Puppet Theatre found the way to see help . At the same evening on the expense of the family budgets of the the world and the world to see the National television Minister chairman and the secretary . Theaters Bulgarian Puppet School . Konstantinova disclosed that here – the then negotiated directly for their own In 1986, thanks to the inexhaust- Ministry of Culture came to the rescue participation in the Festivals . They did ible energy of the great personality of and took pay for Bulgaria’s member- not require UNIMA’s mediation . The Vassil Apostolov, another International ship, in such an important theater orga- financial crisis gradually turned into Puppet Festival - “Two are too few – nization as UNIMA . We believed in the spiritual . The theatre managers started three are too much” – raised the curtain new Democratic Government, and that to exempt from the creative members in Plovdiv . It opened a new space for “the Time is Ours!” . During the sum- – playwrights, directors, stage designers, mer of 1992 we went with a fresh con- composers . Almost all theatre expression of the small forms . th In 1988 the management of the fidence to , for the 16 workshops for making puppets were Bulgarian Centre of UNIMA was trans- Congress . closed . The Bulgarian High and Large- mitted to the younger generation . Our astonishment was great when scale Puppet Art began to return to the Slavcho Malenov was elected as a we received a refuse to be registered primitive practices of Karagiozis since President and Maya Petrova as a because of unpaid dues . However, our late 19th century . Secretary . pledged word of honor worked and we Under the big word “Reform” the At the 15th UNIMA Congress in were admitted to the activities of the Ministry of Culture began a process of 1988 in , Nikolina Georgieva Congress, but even greater was the decomposition . As a result of the was honored with the title “Honorary shame, when after returning, we found “Reform”, Pleven’s Puppet Theater, that member” of the World Organization out that the strong words of the Minister held the first festivals with performances for her longtime work in the Executive were not followed by any real actions . for adults, was irreparably lost . The neat 26 брой 7/2013 27

Славчо Маленов Майа Петрова Кирякос Аргиропулос Slavcho Malenov Maya Petrova Kiryakos Argiropoulos building was plundered (although it was education, personalities and many fession. Spoken words and produc- sealed) and the property was missing links . In 2003 the free website people . tion on the stage fly away, written (including the chairs for the audience, bulgaria .com was closed . However, all words remain . the piano and the radiators) . The the information was stored and On the initiative of Kriakos, an puppet theaters in Kardzhali, Shumen, uploaded again in geocities .com, where International Festival - Biennial for Pazardzhik, Silistra, Haskovo and Vratsa it could be used until 2009, when this Street and Puppet Theatre named “Fair were also destroyed . Under the pretext site was also closed . of the Puppets” – was created . An that they were going to be saved, they In 2005, the Ministry of Culture Award for Lifetime Achievement in the were made part of a hybrid mutant, refused to recognize the legitimacy of Field of Puppetry, on behalf of AKT- called Dramatic Puppet Theatre . the documents, regulating the existence UNIMA, was invented . But there were also successful initia- of the UNIMA center and the dues The new chairman of AKT- tives: were not paid again . The center was in UNIMA managed to obtain the funds In 2000, the wonderful manager collapse again . and in 2008 together with Mrs . tandem Darin Petkov and Tanya Fortunately, in 2002, as a manager Christina Arsenova, a member of the Kalcheva created their brain-child – the of the Central Puppet Theatre (now Board of Managers, took part in the International Puppet Theater Festival Capital Puppet Theatre) was appointed work of the 20th Congress of the for Adults “Pierrot” . Kiryakos Argiropulos . Driven by his World Organization, held in Perth, Over the years, this forum started dissatisfaction, accumulated over the Australia . There the world community gaining more and more prestige at years, he stood up for the idea of​​ of puppeteers was reminded of Bulgaria home and abroad . Everyone enjoyed creating a successful puppet guild, again . that . which established the so-called AKT The last vote of AKT-UNIMA In 1998, Theater “Atelier 313” (Association of Puppet (kukla) elected as a president Peter Pashov . He housed the office of UNIMA’s center, Theaters), which along with the values ​​ initiated the establishment of an an- but that lasted shortly, because in of UNIMA, aimed to defend the nual award “SIVINA” – “For the Best 1999, in honor of the 10th anniversary national and international interests of Young Puppet Actor”, financed by the of this community theater, it was also the profession, under the name of Guild of directors . closed . AKT-UNIMA, Bulgaria . That is the Ivan Raikov was elected as a re- Дарин Петков Although there were no funds for new image of the Bulgarian UNIMA sponsible secretary of AKT-UNIMA . Darin Petkov activities, the “Soros” Center for the today. Due to the beneficial Arts, in the person of Cvetelina The association was housed in the activity of the associa- Ouzounova, reached out to the bosom of the biggest Bulgarian Puppet tion in the last years, the Bulgarian UNIMA and donated a Theater – the Capital Puppet Theater . organizational life grad- computer and a printer, which helped A new legal registration was made . ually returned to nor- for our communication with the world . Kiryakos became the new chairman of mal . Now the develop- Thanks to the modern technology in the association . On his own initiative ment of a new website 1999-2000, a website in people .bulgaria . (of course with the participation of the http://www .unima-bul- com was created . It was made in new board of AKT-UNIMA) began a garia .org/ is in progress . Bulgarian and English language and really important activity – the pub- It seems now that the offered detailed information about the lishing of the prestigious magazine problems with the dues puppet theaters in the country, with “KuklArt” (“PuppArt”). are overcome . Our the addresses of all state and private This event is among the most country begins to re- formations (then over 50), festivals, significant achievements of the pro- cover its position in in- 26 брой 7/2013 27

ternational terms . cause they must be given . In science, Петър Пашов The responsible secretary Ivan there is a concept defining the level of Petar Pashov Raikov participated in the Council of a scientific research – a dissertability of UNIMA in Dordrecht, Holland, where the work . It does not determine wheth- he presented a report on the status and er the work is good or bad, but the activities of our center . level of professional thinking – whether In 2012, he and Christina Arsenova, this work says something new . a member of the Board were our dele- Very often, when I enter into the gates to the last congress in hall, it seems to me that I have already – China, where they presented the seen this or that show . Nothing new, nomination of Sofia as a host for the nothing interesting and nothing excit- next meeting of the Council . Although ing! I think that on the festival stages Cuba was chosen as the newest mem- must be performed only festivable ber of the World Organization, Bulgaria works . Unfortunately, most of the per- became topic of conversations again . formances are not only none-festivable, However, Ivan Raikov was elected but very shamavable . as a member of the Women’s We do not need festivals to increase Commission, chaired by Mrs . Tamiko our confidence . We have to look round Иван Райков Onagi . This, it goes without saying, our house and stop thinking that we Ivan Raikov was a success . are the champions because we are Today the new reality does not Bulgarians . Masterpieces are not cre- oblige anyone to search for the inter- ated by junk . We need not just perfor- vention of UNIMA in order to travel mances but stage achievements . We abroad . Anyone can depart and pres- need to talk openly about these issues, ent himself/herself on behalf of and not make a boast about or delude Bulgaria . Our country holds an increas- ourselves . We have to start to search ing number of puppet forums . Their for discoveries and findings again, be- number far exceeds the amount of cause this is the only way for the devel- good performances, created over the opment of art . Only then we can ex- years . Before, the participation in festi- pect that we will be up to standard and vals and the awards used to have some worthy of the ideals and values of value . Today the awards are simply dis- UNIMA . tributed among the participants, be- Long live UNIMA! Към проблема за основната функция на куклите Д. изк. Борис П. Голдовски, президент на Центъра „Сергей В. Образцов“, Москва

Изкуството на куклата е подоб- гледат куклите и виждат в тях свое- цивилизации, живеещи в супериндус- но на айсберг, плуващ в безкрайния то отражение . И ако се променят триално общество, има племена, ос- океан на времето . Никой още не е хората, се променят и куклите . Но и танали в първобитни форми, има и могъл да разбере нито размера на то- хората са отражение на куклите . народи, живеещи в средновековие . зи айсберг, нито защо е създаден, ни- Тоест, ако се променят куклите, се Така е и с куклите . Днес редом с изра- то за къде пътува . Никой засега не е променяме и ние . Защото човек, по- ботените от кости и глина фигури, разкрил тайната на този артефакт, добно на куклата, е подложен на прео- редом с Акаона на нанайците, който създаден от човек преди хиляди годи- бразувания . е с широко отворени очи, съществу- ни . Не случайно М . Е . Салтиков- Статията Този „паралелен свят“, както е и ват механични кукли-автомати от Щедрин твърдеше, че от всички съ- е изпратена при човечеството, има своя исто- втората половина на ХIХ век, изра- ществуващи по света загадки, тайна- специално рия, география, философия, техноло- ботени от Жул Щайнер или по-къс- та на куклата е най-загадъчната . за „КуклАрт“. гии, има време и пространство на ните автоматически играчки Едно е ясно: както без човека не куклите, има изкуство – театър, ки- „Vichy“, „Fleishmann & Bloedel“, може да бъде разбрана куклата, така и но, литература, има и променящи се „Lambert“ и други . Едновременно с без куклата – този овеществен пара- понятия за красота и уродливост . колекционерските мечета на докс – не може да бъде разбран заоби- Самото развитието на култура- Маргарет Стейф има и по-късните калящият ни свят . та на куклите, също като история- – на фирмата „Aleander“ . Древните „Паралелният свят“ на куклите та на цивилизациите, е неравномерен криптофигури с подвижни съчлене- винаги се променя заедно с нас . Хората процес . На планетата ни редом с ния могат да бъдат редом с куклите 28 брой 7/2013 29