News - United Kingdom, Edinburgh, Consulate of the Republic of Bulgaria

The participation of HAND Theatre with Shakespeare x 5 at the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, supported by the Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Edinburgh, marked an important step in the theatre’s international development and in bringing Bulgarian performing arts to an international audience.

Between 7 and 30 August, the production was performed for 24 consecutive days and received strong critical feedback. The Wee Review awarded it four stars, Binge Fringe Magazine described one of its scenes as “one of the best clown sequences at the festival”, while FringeReview included the production among its recommended shows. British Theatre Guide also published a positive review.

Beyond the performances, the team met with international artists, producers and theatre organisations, opening discussions about future guest performances, partnerships and collaborative projects.

The Fringe experience also prompted discussions about a future Bulgarian showcase at the festival, creating an opportunity for more Bulgarian artists and productions to present their work to international audiences and industry professionals.

The support of the Consulate of the Republic of Bulgaria in Edinburgh and the Municipality of Plovdiv played an important role both in the theatre’s participation and in creating new opportunities for international development. The support of the Bulgarian community in Scotland was also greatly appreciated, including by Bulgarians who travelled from elsewhere specifically to attend the performances.

The Fringe experience has already inspired HAND Theatre’s next international initiative, HANDpicked: PLOVDIV 2027, through which international productions will be brought to audiences in Plovdiv.

The Consulate of the Republic of Bulgaria in Edinburgh remains committed to supporting and assisting Bulgarian artists and creative organisations interested in presenting their work in Scotland and developing international professional partnerships. We believe that Bulgarian artists have much to offer on the international stage and are keen to help create more opportunities for Bulgarian culture to be seen and experienced in Scotland.

We congratulate HAND Theatre on its achievements and on its successful presentation of Bulgarian theatre on the international stage.

Video review: https://youtu.be/V_W_7HZYBOI?is=ES-sJf66y1eC7yUb

 The Wee Review: https://theweereview.com/review/shakespeare-x-5/

Binge Fringe Magazine: https://www.bingefringe.com/2026/08/15/review-shakespeare-x5-hand-theatre-edfringe-2026-%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%85/

FringeReview: https://fringereview.co.uk/review/edinburgh-fringe/2026/shakespeare-x-5/

britishtheatreguide: https://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/shakespeare-x5-zoo-playground-25945