EX Machina
EX MACHINA — International Festival for Ancient Theatre
EX MACHINA is an international festival for professional and youth ancient theatre, organized by the Foundation for Ancient Theatre “Ognyan Radev” in partnership with institutions from Bulgaria, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, and Spain.
It explores the connections between culture and education, antiquity and modernity, and high culture and everyday life.
Concept
The festival brings together professional and youth productions inspired by ancient texts and ideas, creating a space where classical heritage meets contemporary performance and public dialogue.
Its core themes are:
• Antiquity and the contemporary world
• Theatre and education
• Academic knowledge and the performing arts
Programme
The festival features:
• Youth performances during the day
• Professional productions in the evening
• Awards ceremony and roundtable discussion with jury members and special guests on the final day
The discussions are open to everyone interested in ancient theatre and its connections to philosophy, contemporary life, language, speech, psychology, wine, architecture, and more.
Editions
EX MACHINA — First Edition (April 3–5)
The first festival hosted professional and youth ancient theatre productions from Bulgaria, Italy, and Greece.[ancienttheatre]
The jury included directors, scenographers, philologists, philosophers, composers, actors, visual artists, and sommeliers, who evaluated performances from multiple professional perspectives.[ancienttheatre]
The closing roundtable brought together experts from academia, the creative industries, and entrepreneurship.
EX MACHINA: ACADEMIA — Second Edition (May 2–3, 2026)
The second edition continued the festival’s international mission and added a stronger educational dimension through a partnership with the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA).
Highlights included:
• “Phaedo” after Plato (Ancient Theatre “Ognyan Radev”, Sofia) — a contemporary theatrical interpretation of Plato’s dialogue on the soul, death, and truth, later presented in Sicily at an ancient theatre.
• “In Praise of Folly” (Italy) — combining Euripides and Erasmus of Rotterdam to explore tragedy, irony, and the limits of reason.
• “Helen” by Euripides (Greece) — youth production offering a modern perspective on ancient myth.
• “Prometheus” (Bulgaria) — a dance-theatre work inspired by the myth of rebellion, sacrifice, and knowledge.
• “Hades and Persephone” (Bulgaria) — an interactive educational performance using drama-based learning methodology.
The festival also featured:
• An interactive semiotic game “Urban Labyrinth” in Plovdiv’s Old Town
• A wine tasting supported by the Balkan International Wine Competition
• A public discussion on Plato, philosophy, and the contemporary relevance of ancient heritage
The jury included director Yavor Gardev, composer Hristo Namliev, literary scholar Kamelia Spasova, and philosopher Dimitar Bozhkov.
Partners
EX MACHINA is part of the International Network of Ancient Theatres AMENANOS NOSTOS, with editions in Italy, Greece, and Cyprus.
Key partners include:
• Plovdiv Municipality
• Plovdiv Opera
• Ancient Plovdiv
• Academy of Music, Dance, and Fine Arts “Prof. Asen Diamandiev”
• National High School for Stage and Screen Arts – Plovdiv
• National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA)
• Italian Cultural Institute in Sofia
• Aristotle Cultural Organisation
• Italian Association for Ancient Theatre “DIDE”
• Bulgarian Association of Winemakers
• Free Plovdiv Tour
• Reflector Foundation
The festival has been held under the patronage of the Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe (UNESCO) and with the support of the Embassies of Italy, Greece, and Cyprus in Bulgaria.
