It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of one of the most prominent figures in
Bulgarian puppet theatre – Professor Maya Petrova.

Throughout her long creative career, she designed the stage sets for over 200 performances. She was the founder of the “Puppet Theatre Scenography” specialty at the Theatre Academy in Sofia, and her graduates include some of the most distinguished puppet scenographers.

“Everything you work on, you should dream of working on. I want to create good and beautiful theatre”.
– Maya Petrova

Professor Maya Petrova was born in 1950. She graduated in “Puppet Scenography and Puppet Theatre Technology” from the Academy of Performing Arts (DAMU) in Prague, Czech Republic, in 1975, studying under Professor Richard Lander and Assoc. Prof. Václav Kabát. That same year, she began her teaching career at the Krastyo Sarafov National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFIZ), where she taught courses in “Puppet Theatre Technology” and “Artistic Design of Puppet Performances”.

In 1992, she initiated the establishment of the “Puppet Theatre Scenography” specialty within the Puppetry Department at NATFA “Krastyo Sarafov”, personally beginning to teach the classes. Among her graduates are some of the most prominent puppet scenographers in Bulgaria and around the world. She created the scenographic designs for over 200 performances for children and adults in Bulgaria and abroad. She worked with the most authoritative names in puppet theatre – Atanas Ilkov, Nikolina Georgieva, Edi Shwartz, Yana Tsankova, Slavcho Malenov, Rumen Rachev, Dora Ruskova, Elza Laleva, and others.

She was the recipient of the AKT-UNIMA, Bulgaria Award for outstanding contribution to Bulgarian puppet art  2025.

The entire puppetry community mourns the great loss of the talented Professor Petrova!