The first theatrical performance in Sliven took place in 1868, and the first permanent theater troupe in the city was created in 1918. This year is considered the beginning of professional theater in Sliven. Since 1948, the theater has been state-owned. In 1987, a new theater building with a Chamber Hall, a Large Salon and a Ballet Hall was opened. In its 100-year history, the theater has presented over 600 productions to the audience. The repertoire includes both classic works by authors from the world dramaturgy: William Shakespeare, Jean Baptiste Moliere, N. Ostrovsky, Victor Hugo, Carlo Goldoni, N. Gogol, A. P. Chekhov, P. K. Beaumarchais, Branislav Nušić, Eduardo de Filippo, Oscar Wilde, Bertolt Brecht, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, Sławomir Mrožek, August Strindberg, contemporary authors such as Paula Vogl, Amelie Notomb, Georgi Gospodinov, Stefan Vogel, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Alexander Galin, Matej Vishnek, Stanislav Vitkacij, Bernard-Marie Koltez, as well as many Bulgarian classics: Ivan Vazov, St. L. Kostov, Anton Strashimirov, Yordan Yovkov, P. K. Yavorov, Valeri Petrov, Yordan Radichkov, Elin Pelin. The theater has toured in Germany, Russia, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Georgia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Slovakia, Italy, Serbia.