LEARN, GROW & THRIVE TOGETHER
Our vision
Our vision for the Balkan Playback Theatre School is to become a cornerstone for artistic growth, cultural connection, and social impact in the Balkan region. We envision a thriving community where Playback Theatre is not only practiced but embraced as a transformative force for communication, empathy, and collaboration.
How We Want to Make a Difference
To Strengthen Community Bonds: Playback Theatre is a powerful tool for building bridges across cultural, linguistic, and social divides
To Cultivate Professional Excellence: Our purpose is to provide high-quality training for actors, conductors, and musicians in Playback Theatre, aligning with the standards of the Center for Playback Theatre.
To Expand the Reach of Playback Theatre: The Balkan region is rich in cultural heritage and untold stories.
To Foster Cultural Exchange and Collaboration: The school will create opportunities for dialogue and collaboration between Playback Theatre practitioners from different countries, contributing to a vibrant, interconnected network of artists and storytellers.
To Support Social and Emotional Well-being: Playback Theatre is an art form that promotes healing and personal growth. Through our training, we aim to empower participants to use Playback Theatre as a tool for social inclusion, emotional well-being, and resilience.
Who are we
Nella Chilachava
(Russia/Georgia/Bulgaria)
Accredited playback trainer at the Center for Playback Theatre and co-founder of the Balkan Playback Theatre School
Founder, director, conductor, actress of the international PT „The Others“ (since 2014) troupes are represented in three countries and 6 cities: Russia (Moscow, Krasnodar, Sochi, Novorossiysk), Mexico (Playa del Carmen) and in Bulgaria (Sofia). Currently, the number of the team is more than thirty people.
•Founder, supervisor, one of the leading trainers of the international playback theatre school „The Others“ in cooperation with the playback School of Israel under the leadership of Aviva Apel-Rosenthal (affiliated school of CPT, New York).
•Co-founder, actress and conductor of the international project World Playback Theatre (year of foundation – 2020), performances of which are created in an online space for people from all over the world.
•Co-founder of the international project „Cinematic playback“ (USA, England, Bulgaria, Russia).
•In collaboration with partner Vasil Spasov (Bulgaria) created the playback duo „Why not…?“
•Certified guide of the Listening Hour (the international project of Jonathan Fox (USA, New York)
•Studied in England, Portugal, Belgium, Bulgaria, Russia, India.
•Psychologist, constellation facilitator and trainer, certified trainer of different types of meditation, coach of psychotherapeutic groups (practice since 2008).
Nella is an expert in working with immigrants. For more than 5 years, she has been organizing a playback theatre for immigrants and a number of other events that serve to unite people, understanding the specifics and nuances of this work.
More information
Tzveta Baliyska
(Sofia, Bulgaria)
Accredited playback trainer at the Center for Playback Theatre and co-founder of the Balkan Playback Theatre School
Tzveta Baliyska is an actress, director, and trainer with over 15 years of experience in playback theatre. She is the founder and artistic director of the BG Playback Theatre Festival, a board member of the Center for Playback Theatre, and the coordinator of the global 50 Years of Playback Theatre Celebrations.
She is the leader and founder of Dramedy Playback Theatre—the only youth playback company in Bulgaria, co-founder of Varna Playback Theatre, and co-founder of the Balkan Playback Theatre School, a key training and development hub for playback practitioners in the region. Additionally, she leads Playback Theatre “Here and Now”, advancing the methodology and practice of playback theatre in Bulgaria.
As a playback conductor, Tzveta has facilitated personal stories in over 600 performances, building bridges between storytellers, audiences, and actors. She has conducted hundreds of workshops in Bulgaria and has participated in international events in Hungary, India, Cuba, and other countries, showcasing playback theatre as a tool for connection, storytelling, and social change.
In her work, she actively integrates drama therapy, combining it with playback theatre as a powerful method for personal growth, emotional exploration, and group dynamics.
Known for her dynamic style and deep understanding of the process, she blends playfulness, empathetic listening, and improvisation to create transformative theatrical experiences.
More information
Creators Association: https://tvorci.org
https://www.facebook.com/tvorci.org
Playback Thеatre “Here and Now” https://theatrehereandnow.com
Dramedy Theatre and Academy: https://dramedytheatre.org
Stefka Dimitrova
(Varna, Bulgaria)
Accredited playback trainer at the Center for Playback Theatre and co-founder of the Balkan Playback Theatre School
Founder and director of Playback Theatre Varna – the first playback company formed outside of the capital city in Bulgaria
Stefka is also an active member of Playback Theatre „Here and Now”, which is based in Sofia
Stefka is the director and co-founder of Dramedy Academy in Varna
Stefka has experience as an actor and conductor in PT since 2019 and has undergone numerous training and workshops led by experienced teachers from Bulgaria and abroad. Stefka became the second accredited playback teacher from Bulgaria at the Center for Playback Theatre.
She also has many years of experience in educational programs for children and youth in the non-formal sector – outdoor schools, adventure programs, workshops and mountain programs, in which she is applying and developing methods and techniques about group facilitation, art therapy and other practices.
What we do
We are working on the following classes and events:
- Core Trainings – teaching the foundations of Playback theatre and basic skills and values in Varna and in Sofia, as well as offering such in another region;
- Introductory workshops – 2-3 hour workshops for unlocking spontaneity and creativity through learning the fundamentals of Playback Theatre—no prior stage experience required. This is an opportunity to get to know yourself and the group, connect with authenticity through accessible techniques, improvisational games, movement, music, and active listening.
- Level 2 classes (CPT Curriculum Pathway)- offering workshops for the Level 1 graduates on the following topics Conducting 1&2, Spontaneity & Group Process, Music and Ritual, Actor Onstage and others upon request
- Advanced workshops on different topics -we are organizing advanced workshops and masterclasses lead by our team or other guest trainers
- BG Playback Theatre Festival – we are organizing the annual Bulgarian Playback theatre gathering since 2015
- Balkan Playback Theatre Festival – In 2026, the BG festival expands its format for the first time and takes place as a Balkan Playback Theatre Festival.
- Workshops or classes for marginalized communities and participation in different social projects;
- Organizing mixed performances with members of different groups from Bulgaria and abroad – this is a great opportunity to connect, exchange practices and grow as community
Playback theatre is “an art that is committed to affirming ordinary people’s experience and to fostering connections between them so that the communities we live in can grow in compassion and humanity. We strive to honer our art in order to offer it as service. Playback is a fusion, perhaps a unique one, of artistic and social phenomena. The more it can fulfill the demands of both, the more it can succeed.”
What is “Good” Playback Theatre?, Jo Salas