Performing Arts for Social Change Lecture with Elena Panayotova

Performing Arts for Social Change workshop Drawing on her vast experience as a theatre director, academic and cultural activist, including extensive work in Africa, Panayatova will offer an open session called Performing Arts for Social Change. This 90 minute workshop will be of interest to performing artists, educators, social workers – any one interesting in applying theatre or performing arts for social change. The film MOTHER, which opens the festival, is based on the story of Panayatova, in particular her experiences in Kenya.

More about Elena Panayotova: she is a theatre director, educator and producer who has played a key role in the appearance of new tendencies and forms of theatrical practice in Bulgaria over the last twenty years. She holds Ph.D. on Applied Theatre from New Bulgarian University. She has a long lasting career as a professor in acting both in Utrecht School for Arts in the Netherlands and New
Bulgarian University in Sofia. Panayotova has numerous national and international awards for her achievements as theatre director. During the period 2002-2017, she initiated and directed the international programme “Artists for children” that involved over 5000 youth and children in need and 300 artists in Europe and Africa in performing arts.