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Kakvoto takova
A class, eleventh „A“, has traditionally been gathering for years together with their teacher, Comrade Peeva, now 90 years old. They always meet at Silvia's small and cozy little restaurant, generous and wholeheartedly sharing in their ever-sadder celebration. The passing years have taken youth from the protagonists, have changed their destinies, but have also preserved their small, unique, and high-spirited community; therefore, being together once a year is for them an important, irreplaceable experience. They are bound by the selfless persistence to be together in their differences. Unexpected memories surge, long-suppressed conflicts erupt, the jealousy that has not subsided over the decades sneaks in between two of the heroines, who kissed the same boy...
What will happen at the last meeting, attended by only eight of the former students? Will secrets about love and betrayal be brought to light? Or perhaps an unexpected visit – from friends, from ill-wishers or simply from thugs? Will malice, cruelty or a smile prevail? What radiance does life have at the end of the road? And the answers, spoken with sadness, laughter and music, you will learn in Nedyalko Yordanov – „It Is What It Is“, thanks to the team of brilliant actors whom we have remembered over the years.
About the production
Written and directed by Bulgarian poet–playwright Nedyalko Yordanov, this National Theatre “Ivan Vazov” title premiered on the Chamber Stage on 27 September 2019 and has since continued to travel the country. Genre-wise it leans into comedy, yet the laughs are edged with time, memory and the awkward tenderness of reunions. Expect roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes of theatre that moves nimbly between light banter, sharp confession and live musical interludes.
Who’s on stage
The ensemble gathers stage favorites across generations: Latinka Petrova, Lyubomir Mladenov, Plamena Getova, Yanina Kasheva, Sava Pipperov, Ruth Rafailova, Bogdan Glishev, Stanislav Pishtalov, Viktoria Koleva, Eva Tepavicharova and Hristo Terziev, among others. Over the seasons the role of the class teacher has also been taken on by Latinka Petrova, following the early performances with Emilia Radeva. The creative team features scenography by Chaika Petrusheva, costumes by Desislava Bankova and dramaturgy by Mirela Ivanova.
What audiences notice first
The evening is built like a reunion album that keeps opening: fast, funny group scenes snap into intimate monologues, many of which end with the simple, disarming refrain that gives the play its title. Between scenes, the company folds in a mini‑concert of evergreen hits and old-school tunes that cue memories as efficiently as any line of dialogue. There’s even a sly, lightly “criminal” detour that winks at tabloid Bulgaria without losing the show’s generous tone.
Why this matters now
Yordanov’s reunion play doubles as a reunion of actors we don’t often see together. In January 2025 the National Theatre used a performance of this title to mark the author’s 85th birthday—an apt tribute for a piece that treats aging not as a punchline but as shared biography. The result is a show that speaks fluently to audiences who lived through the late‑20th‑century transitions, and just as clearly to younger theatregoers curious about the emotional archaeology of their parents’ and grandparents’ generation.
Practical notes
The production is not recommended for under‑12s. It continues to appear in Sofia and on national tours (including Burgas dates), with a cast that blends beloved veterans and energetic younger partners—one reason each stop has its own flavor.
If you enjoy ensemble comedies with a wink to schooldays and relationships
- Try the classroom-set satire in Daskal.
- Prefer relationship farce? See Otchayani sapruzi 2: Brakuvani or the Friday-night mix-ups in Petak vecher.
- For strong female-led storytelling, look at Vsicho tova e tya.