A Doll's House, Part Two

A Doll's House, Part Two

by Lucas Hnath

Translation:

Yassen Peyankov and Biserka Peyankov

Director:

Yassen Peyankov

Set Designer:

Kancho Kasabov

Costume designer:

Yordan Mikhalev

Composer:

Theodosii Spasov

STARRING:

Snezhina Petrova, Tsvetan Alexiev, Boyka Velkova, Radina Borshosh

American playwright Lucas Hnath pulls a few threads from Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House to weave the fabric of his play A Doll's House, Part Two. It takes us back to the home of Torvald Helmer when Nora suddenly appears at his door - the same door she slammed behind her fifteen years ago, leaving her husband and children behind. Her return will lead to a violent clash of life views and moral values. During these years Nora has fought for her independence, achieved success and made money in a society where people expect, even wish, that women who leave their families be punished. But there is a price for that, and she will have to pay it.

Lucas Hnath’s compelling play is both a continuation of Ibsen's study of the family and the traditional roles of men and women within it, and a contemporary look at the clashes inherent in all human relationships throughout the ages. This psychological drama is built on the classical principle of the trinity of time, place and action, and the tightly constructed characters find their worthy embodiment in Snezhina Petrova (Nora), Tsvetan Alexiev (Torvald), Boyka Velkova (Anne-Marie) and Radina Borshosh (Emmy).

Yasen Peyankov is an actor, director, and theatre professor who has been living and working in Chicago since 1990. He graduated from the "Krastyo Sarafov" National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in the class of Krikor Azaryan. Since 2002, he has been a permanent member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, whose founders include John Malkovich. At Steppenwolf, he has created over 20 roles and directed 7 productions. Since 2007, he has also been a member of the board of directors. Peyankov is the chair of the theatre department at the University of Illinois in Chicago.

In 2009, he made his Broadway acting debut in Tracy Letts' play Superior Donuts. As a director, he has staged plays by Shakespeare, Chekhov, Bulgakov, Pinter, and Saroyan, as well as many contemporary American plays. Peyankov has played over 30 roles in American film and television. His most recent film role was in Maestro, where he was directed by and partnered with Bradley Cooper.

In 2011, he staged the play August: Osage County by Tracy Letts on the Grand Stage at the National Theatre in Sofia. In this remarkable performance, the main roles were played by Boyka Velkova and Radena Valkanova, with supporting performances by Albena Koleva, Reni Vrangova, Valentin Ganev, Valentin Tanev, Paraskeva Dzhukelova, Ana Papadopoulou, Stoyan Alexiev, and others.

Playwright of the production:

Anelia Yaneva

Assistant director:

Boryana Miteva

Set Designer Assistant:

Tsetska Ivaylova

Poster and program designer:

Yanina Petrova

Photographer:

Stefan Zdraveski

Premiere: October 1st and 2nd, 2024