We are a small team with a range of experience in education, language learning, theatre and making our community a better place. We have a passion for languages, the arts, education, culture, nature and travel. It’s great to brainstorm, refine our ideas and then share them with others. We are excited to have helped to establish the first English language theatre in Bulgaria; right here in Sofia! We hope to see you at a show or workshop soon.
Vera Frengova
Board Chair
Vera is an enthusiast of the arts, culture, travel, and foreign languages. Raised by an English literature teacher, she was exposed to American and British literary canon from an early age. These days her favorite past times are reading fresh voices and going to the theater. She’s fortunate to be part of a theater community, having several family members who work in the industry, with whom she continues thought-provoking conversations long after the curtain closes.
Vera is a Director at Berlitz Sofia Center for Language and Business Trainings. It is at this center that she fortuitously met Mark Modzelewski, founder of the first English-language theater in Bulgaria.
Desislava Duridanova
Board Member
Desislava was born in Sofia and has lived in this beautiful city most of her life.
She is a language teacher and course manager at New Bulgarian University, who still loves teaching after more than 20 years. She says it gives her the freedom to be different every time she enters the classroom. She can be an actor along with her students, changing roles depending on the topic. The director by setting the scene and assigning the roles. A curious audience member following the play unfold onstage or even the reviewer who can either give wings to the performers or “kill” the show with some negative feedback. As a language teacher this defines, to a great extent, her professional interests: teacher training, various aspects of linguistics, teaching language and culture, online learning and intercultural communication.
She’s been fortunate enough and diligent enough to graduate from three different universities and took the best that each could offer. Sofia University taught her to appreciate the beauty of Russian literature, language and culture. New Bulgarian University helped her to become a better English teacher and expanded her knowledge of the English and German speaking worlds. Strathclyde University in Glasgow, Scotland opened her eyes to the stories objects might tell about the people who own them and whose life they define and also the ways one could use language to communicate effectively in a variety of situations.
She claims to not have a hobby, but her phone and camera are always with her. Especially when she travels.
Milena Aneva
Board Member
Milena Aneva PhD’s two main passions are her family and the theatre. She graduated from Natfiz Krastyo Sarafov with a degree in Theater Directing under the tutelage of Prof. Ivan Dobchev. She then went out to complete a doctorate in Theatre Studies in the areas of Theater Art and Imaginative Creativity in Theatre Education. She is an associate professor of Acting and Directing at Southwestern University Neofit Rilski in Blagoevgrad. She has directed over 25 productions in professional theaters in Sofia, Lovech, Blagoevgrad, Vidin and London.
Additionally Milena has worked as an actress, made several music videos and has also published two books. She has a vibrant group of graduate students that she is currently working with in her Acting and Directing course. Milena also serves as the scientific supervisor of doctoral students from Bulgaria and Israel. Milena’s husband is also an accomplished theatre director. So it should come as no surprise that she supports the development of this new NGO!
Additional Contributing Consultants
- Gabriela Tsonkova – set & costume designer, artist
- Miro Kokenov – actor/ entertainer
- Aneliya Modzelewski – producer/ clinical team manager (& Mark’s wife!)
- Emil Vaklinov – entrepreneur/ software developer
- Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law (BCNL)
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THEATER ViSiONS - Sofia's English Speaking Theater 