Out Of The Forest Theatre: Exciting new UK show tour

Combining Bulgarian and Jewish folk music with an irreverent style of historical storytelling, this darkly comic production shares a unique and untold tale from a forgotten chapter of European history.

Under pressure from outside forces, internal conflict and an overwhelming duty to the country and its people, The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria shines a light on an unbelievable and untold slice of history. In 1943 Bulgaria, nearly 50,000 Jewish lives were spared from deportation – and the world forgot. Out Of The Forest Theatre investigate this incredible true story; the role of the ‘wily fox’ King Boris III, the influence of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and the actions of ‘extraordinary ordinary’ people who stood up for their neighbours. The show acknowledges both the devastating and uncelebrated acts that can be found in this pocket of history.

Bulgarian-American co-writer Sasha Wilson was inspired by uncovering the true tale in an old family home, and was surprised that Bulgaria’s own history had been forgotten, and that the rest of the world knew even less. Continuing to take misremembered or forgotten stories and use them as a lens to better understand today, the multi-award winning ensemble of actor-musicians will tour the UK.

Writers Sasha Wilson and Joseph Cullen comment, It is an honour to have discovered this rich history, and to be a small part in sharing Bulgaria’s marvellous story with the world. We have had the pleasure of performing to over 10,000 people, and look forward to the future as we branch out to deliver educational workshops on this topic, and many more. History can be fascinating, entertaining, messy, unkind, complicated, hopeful… but when you find a good story with a message about compassion and doing the right thing in difficult times, you pass it on. At Out Of The Forest Theatre, we take events and try to find characters, to try to make sense of the actions that on paper might seem so nonsensical and disconnected. We don’t shy away from saying based off of the gaps in the historical record ‘we can never know for certain what happened here’, and we encourage our audience to think ‘what would I do?’.

The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria has been the recipient for multiple awards, including Winner of the Origins Award for Outstanding New Work at VAULT Festival 2020; Second Finalists for 2023’s Popcorn Writing Award; and Off West End Award Winner 2024 for Best Performance Ensemble. It is a production that heralds the extraordinary can be found in the ordinary and the good, and that even the smallest David can become a Goliath in history.

Praise for The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria:

A spirited celebration of the Bulgarian monarch who outwitted Hitler and saved thousands of Jewish lives – ★★★★★ The Scotsman

Snappily written, wittily performed and brightly coloured by a live score… For all its fun and games, it is a play with a sting – ★★★★ The Guardian