Denislav Yanev graduated with a degree in Drama Directing from the Krastyo Sarafov National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA) in 2018 with Tennessee Williams’s “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” That same year, the production was selected for the International Festival of Young Theatre Directors in Craiova, Romania, and he was invited to join the ensemble of Targovishte Drama Theatre. Between 2022 and 2024, he also served as the theatre’s Deputy Director of Artistic Affairs.
He has staged productions at Sava Ognyanov Drama Theatre – Ruse, Geo Milev Drama Theatre – Stara Zagora, the “Ion D. Sîrbu” Dramatic Theatre (Petroșani, Romania), among others.
His work has garnered numerous national nominations, festival selections, and awards. Notable accolades include: the “Slavi Shkarov” Prize for Best Young Director for the production “One Step to the Edge” (norway.today) by Igor Bauersima (2020); the Ministry of Culture Award for Contribution to the Development and Promotion of Bulgarian Culture (2021); and nominations at the Golden Kukerikon National Comedy Awards (2022) in the categories of Directing and Best Performance for Molière’s “The Miser” (Sava Ognyanov Drama Theatre).
In Gabrovo, he directed the production “Yavorov’s Window” after Lyuben Bosilkov – Royce in early 2025. In the autumn of the same year, he officially joined the theatre’s resident company.