From Shumen to Berlinale: Dimitar Nikolov's Journey Through Discipline and Truth in Theatre

Dimitar Nikolov, an actor from the troupe of the 'Ivan Vazov' National Theatre, shares key moments in his professional biography – from his first steps in the 'Monfis' theatre school in Shumen to his graduation from NATFIZ. In a conversation for the series 'The Magic of Theatre,' shared by Bulgarian National Radio, he emphasizes that the main pillars of his development were high standards and a lack of falsehood in his training.

Even before the academy, Nikolov describes happy encounters with professors such as Maria Sapundzhieva, Vyara Kolarova, Todor Bliznakov, Mila Bancheva, Gergana Todeva, and Marian Bozukov, who worked very seriously with young students. He also points to a very important meeting with Prof. Zdravko Mitkov, which took place after one of the school's performances in Shumen.

His training in the class of Prof. Ivan Dobchev was decisive. He notes that he is extremely happy to have ended up in this class, stating that both Prof. Ivan Dobchev and Prof. Margarita Mladenova are great professionals. According to Nikolov, the teacher's strict approach was often misinterpreted as rudeness, but in reality, it was an expression of genuine care for the students. "He simply did not tolerate falsehood," the actor says, adding that a lack of compromise is more useful than providing unrealistic expectations, which often lead to a lack of realization in professional life.

The Path to the Stage

Nikolov's biography begins at Slav Boychev's school in Shumen, where as a teenager he participated in productions such as Gogol's "Marriage" and Vazov's "Duel." After graduating from the English Language High School, he tried his luck at a theatre school in the United Kingdom but was not accepted due to the specific selection process. Despite his father's initial reservations that the profession would not provide him with fulfillment, he chose NATFIZ.

Dimitar Nikolov graduated with a degree in "Acting for Dramatic Theatre" in 2015. After graduation, he performed on stages in Plovdiv (the 'N. O. Masalitinov' Drama Theatre), Sliven (the 'Stefan Kirov' Drama Theatre), the "Tear and Laughter" Theatre, and the "Sfumato" Theatre Workshop, before becoming part of the National Theatre.

Between Cinema and Poetry

On his professional path, Nikolov has worked with leading directors such as Kris Sharkov, Marius Kurkinski, Yavor Gardev, and Galin Stoev. In 2018, he became the only Bulgarian included in the Berlinale selection for young talents. Among his film successes are the movies "Hristo," "Block," "The Endless Garden," "Living Chimneys," "Far from the Shore," "A Twisted World," "Devil's Throat," "A Dose of Happiness," "Lyuben," and "The Wheels of Heaven." For his role in the film "Hristo," he won the "Golden Rose" award in 2016, and in 2019, he was a recipient of the "Stoyan Kambarev" Foundation award.

In addition to being in front of the camera and on stage, Nikolov finds expression in poetry, which he describes as a way to meet himself. Music and constant preparation for new challenges in art also play a significant role in his life.