Axolotl
Project Creator · Joker · Programme Designer · Project Writer & Reporter · Erasmus+ KA154-YOU · Youth Participation
Scenes for Meaning
The first two public Legislative Theatre performances in the capital of Bulgaria – as well as two trainings – one for media disinformation, one for the rule of law, and a United Nations Model. Legislative theater is an innovative, artistic and participatory method for policymaking, turning personal stories into civic dialogue with real judges, lawyers, institutions, and national media.
Budget €21,000 Performances 2 Training events 3 City: Sofia Media reach National (BNT + Radio)
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
What we set out to do
Scenes for Meaning (Сцени за Смисъл) was created by Association Creatosphere from scratch as the project aiming to popularise Legislative theater in Bulgaria. It brought together local communities, NGOs, young people, legal professionals, and the general public to use theatre as a tool for civic change.
The project delivered two public performances, each structured around real lived experiences dramatised by an ensemble, followed by open forum dialogue in which audience members could intervene, rewrite scenes, and engage with expert guests from the judiciary. The project was created by Toni P. Lyubenova from Axolotl.
Read more about the project on Creatosphere’s website.
OUR WORK
What Axolotl delivered
- Conceived and authored the full project application (Erasmus+ KA154-YOU)
- Designed the entire programme architecture – from trainings of media and the rule of law, to rehearsal structure to public event format
- Served as Joker across the two performances
- Built and managed the expert partnership with the judiciary (Supreme Court judges Maria Hristova and Nevin Shakirova, legal expert Velislava Lyubenova-Ilieva)
- Coordinated a media literacy event with Dr. Hristo Bonev (National Academy of Theatre & Film) as part of the programme
- Coordinated a Rule of law & Human rights event ran by judges Maria Hristova and Nevin Shakirova as part of the programme
- Coordinatrd a United Nations Model for 30 young people in partnership with the United Nations Association in Bulgaria and CornerstoneEU.
- Appeared on Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and national radio to present the project
- Appeared on Bloomberg TV Bulgaria to present the project
- Oversaw project documentary, marketing, and web presence for the full project cycle
METHODS USED
Approach and methodology
The project applied Augusto Boal’s Legislative Theatre framework – a participatory performance method in which the audience becomes active co-authors of social change. Each performance began with a scripted dramatic scenario drawn from real experience, then opened into a live forum where spectators could stop the action, take the stage, and propose alternative outcomes.
The expert panel format – featuring sitting judges and legal professionals – was an original adaptation developed by Axolotl to ground the dialogue in institutional reality and connect theatrical proposals to actual legal and policy levers.
Legislative Theatre · Forum Theatre (Boal) · Civic dialogue · Expert panel facilitation · Programme design · Media & PR · UN Model
PROJECT TEAM
Joker (facilitator): Toni P. Lyubenova / Axolotl
Coordinator: Denislava Petrova / Creatosphere
Acting ensemble: Harina Miroslavova, Gabriela Zhekova, Atanas Kozhuharov, Toni Nikolov, Yanitsa Vangova
Legal experts: Maria Hristova & Nevin Shakirova (Supreme Court), Velislava Lyubenova-Ilieva
Media literacy: Dr. Hristo Bonev, NATFIZ
UN Model: In collaboration with United Nations Association of Bulgaria and CornerstoneEU
Rule of law: Maria Hristova & Nevin Shakirova
Media & photography: Eve Enfer
IMPACT
Outcomes and reach
“For the first time, people in Bulgaria used theatre not just to tell their stories, but to rewrite the rules. Sitting judges took part. The audience became lawmakers for an evening.”
– Toni Lyubenova, project creator and Joker
- Two public held in Sofia
- A Model United Nations held in Sofia
- Two training events – one for media disinformation, one for the rule of law
- Active participation of sitting judges from the Highest Court of Justice
- National media coverage: Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and national radio
- First application of Legislative Theatre methodology in a public civic context in Bulgaria
- Direct continuation of the Act of Change training cycle – closing the loop from training to public impact
- A documentary about the project
PROJECT DETAILS
Programme: Erasmus+ KA154-YOU
Type:Youth Participation
Budget: €21,000
Client organisation: Association Creatosphere, Sofia
Axolotl’s role: Project Creator · Joker · Programme Designer · Project Writer & Reporter
Want to bring this innovative methodology to your community?
Axolotl designs and facilitates Legislative Theatre projects across Europe – from application writing and programme design to live performance.
axolotl.management@gmail.com
© 2026 Axolotl · Sofia, Bulgaria · Working across Europe