Nikola Yordanov: From Sea Breeze to Stage Lights
Nikola Yordanov doesn’t just perform – he lives for the stage in all its beautiful chaos. Born and raised in Varna, Bulgaria’s seaside cultural hub, he began as a folk dancer, shifted into hip-hop, and eventually followed the rhythm of his heart straight into acting. Now a student at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, Nikola is a passionate young artist who thrives on collaboration, creativity, and a good challenge.
During the Theatre in Palm Residency in Sofia, he stepped into a different spotlight – as assistant to acclaimed actress and director Boryana Puncheva. From behind-the-scenes breakthroughs to moments of pure theatrical magic, Nikola shares his journey, lessons from Brecht, and the wild performance he’d stage if given unlimited freedom (hint: think sandworms and sequins).
Photo by Tsvetan Ignatovski
Can you tell us a little more about who you are?
Hello! I’m Nikola Yordanov, born and raised in Varna – often called the sea capital of Bulgaria. I’m a dreamer, actor, dancer, model, and many other things, but I’d say “artist” describes me best.
What first drew you to theatre? Was there a particular moment or experience that made you realize this was your path?
That’s almost a short story, haha. Since I was little, everything around me became a stage – whether it was the couch, a coffee table, or a chair, I was always singing, dancing, performing. I first started training in Bulgarian folk dance, which I did for 7–8 years. Later on, I switched to hip-hop and joined THE CENTER DANCE SCHOOL in Varna, where I trained for four years until around 2019–2020.
One day, our mentor and lead choreographer, Georgi “Goosh” Enchev – founder of the school and a pioneer of hip-hop culture in Bulgaria – told me and six others that we had been selected to dance in a new production at the Varna Drama Theatre. That was exactly the push I needed. As we rehearsed and performed, I fell more and more in love with being on stage – standing side by side with the actors made me realize that I didn’t just want to dance…I wanted to act, too.
Soon after, I enrolled in the acting school of renowned Bulgarian actor and director Stoyan Radev. Two years later, I was accepted into NATFA (the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts) to study Drama Acting with the legendary Ivaylo Hristov.
The Threepenny Opera/Photo by NATFA
You’ve been part of productions like The Threepenny Opera and 12 Angry Men – which role or scene challenged you the most, and what did you take away from that experience?
Throughout my training, I’ve gone through many roles, tasks, and etudes, but the most challenging experience for all of us was definitely The Threepenny Opera. Working with a writer like Brecht is a huge bite to chew – especially for young actors, and even for seasoned performers and directors. Thankfully, we had our powerhouse professor Ivaylo Hristov, known for his taste, instincts, and deep understanding of Brecht’s epic theatre.
What challenged us the most was the concept of play. What does “play” mean? How do you perform it? It was confusing and incredibly difficult. But when you’re guided the right way, you start to find it. I believe every actor in the world should go through Brecht. It’s foundational to acting – it opens you up and completely frees your body and mind.
And if you could step into any role, past or present, with no limitations, what would it be and why?
Haha, this one’s my favorite question! I don’t have a dream role, per se – if I had no limits or restrictions, I’d want to play everything! I just want to act. A lot.
The Threepenny Opera/Photo by NATFA
During the TIP Residency, you worked closely as the assistant of Bulgarian actress and director Boryana Puncheva. What was it like to support the creative process from the sidelines, and what did that experience teach you about leadership and collaboration?
Boryana is an incredible person and a mentor in life. The process with her was intense and productive, and it really taught me the importance of discipline in the creative process. What I took away from that experience is that leading a group doesn’t mean everything depends on you alone. You’re all in it together. A few brains are always smarter than one.
Was there a particular day during the residency when you thought, “This is why I love theatre!”? What happened that made it stand out?
There was one moment – after all the stress and uncertainty of whether we could pull this off in such a short time – when we finally had a finished performance. Everyone relaxed. We let go and just enjoyed what we had created from scratch, using only our bodies. That’s the magic of theatre – it can turn thin air into castles, dragons, princesses, sharks, people’s thoughts…anything you can imagine.
Nikola Yordanov and Boryana Puncheva/Photo by Viola Rodionova
Let’s say someone gives you a stage, an unlimited budget, and full creative control. What kind of wild, daring, or dreamlike performance are you putting out into the world?
As crazy as it might sound – I think it’s a bold but totally possible idea, because like I said, theatre can do anything. I’d stage Dune. Or I’d bring Moulin Rouge to Bulgaria, but done properly – at a world-class level.
Thank you for the interview! I’m really glad I had the chance to talk about all of this. I hope our creative paths cross again sometime soon.
Article by Niya Andonova
