Bulgarian director and teacher. Graduate of the Natsionalna akademia za teatralni i filmovi izkustva (NATFA), (National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts) in Sofia, where he studied directing for puppet theatre under Nikolina Georgieva, Slavcho Malenov also studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts de la Marionnette (ESNAM) in Charleville-Mézières, France. As a stage director he has worked in Varna (1978-1980), Plovdiv (1980-1986), and at the Stolichen kuklen teatur (Sofia Central Puppet Theatre, 1986-1991) and was that theatre’s Artistic Director (1989-1991). Since 1992, Malenov has directed productions for Atelier 313 in Sofia.

Slavcho Malenov has directed more than seventy-five productions with actors and puppets in Bulgaria and other countries. Among his works are: Maistora i Margarita (The Master and Margarita, 1996) by Mikhail Bulgakov, Halifut Shturk (The Stork Halif) by W. Hauff, Malkata Feya (The Little Fairy) by V. Rabadan, Luv bez Opashka (The Lion Without a Tail), and Lamiata ot ulica Voyteshka (The Dragon from Voitechka Street, 1988) by Karel Čapek, which were performed in Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Mexico.

He has received many awards including for “Best Foreign Production” at the International Festival of Mexico in 1989, the Golden Dolphin Award at the Varna Festival, and is the recipient of the prestigious national order “Cyril and Methodius” and the “Hilyada i trista godini Bulgaria” (“1300 Years Bulgaria”) medal.

Slavcho Malenov teaches acting and theatre direction for puppet theatre at the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA). He is a former president of the UNIMA Centre of Bulgaria.

(See Bulgaria.)