Maia Tinkova: It’s interesting to me to reincarnate into so many different characters in a short time

Maia Tinkova is an independent actress who graduated from acting mastery under Prof. Tsvetana Maneva and Assoc. Snezhina Petrova at the theater department of the New Bulgarian University. He is a producer of the company “Thunder and Trembling” and plays in the productions “Dakota” and “Arthur and Claire”.

Maia Tinkova specially for Impressio in front of Mina Takova:

– How did you decide to create “Thunder and Shake”?
– It happened really accidentally. I really wanted to be a state actress, and I lived with the unrealistic idea that after I graduated, I would immediately be “wanted” somewhere on state. But that didn’t happen. I went to every possible casting and got a lot of rejections, until at one point I said to myself that I can’t sit around and wait for someone to like me in order to get the “role of my life” and decided to take matters into my own hands.

And the strangest thing is that since I started producing and acting more actively, I also started winning castings, so it’s all been good. For the decision to become not only an actress, but also a producer, my husband helped me a lot, who always supports me and frankly sees the right path long before me.

The first play I produced was “Dakota” and I didn’t know if I would be up to the task of being not only a producer but also an actress in the show.

“Thunder and Shake” production house

It was very stressful for me, but I had the chance for the people I worked with to vote their confidence in me without knowing each other before, for which I am extremely grateful. And so it all began, a bit of magic. “P.O.R.N.O. – Public organization for the development of society” is the third production that “Thunder and Trembling” produces, and therefore I decided that it is time to announce the official launch of the production house at the very premiere of April 30th at Yalta art room.

– What kind of performances do you aspire to create as your production and emblem of the production house?
– I want to create performances that leave something with people. When I go to the theater, I have always liked these productions, after which for at least a week I reflect on the themes put on the stage, I am excited by the acting of the actors, by the direction, by the music. In fact, this is exactly the kind of theater I want to do. To keep people excited long after they have left the hall. I could also say that I want to do dark comedies because that’s very close to my heart, but I’m sure at some point I’ll be producing something that’s not a comedy, so I’m not going to say that outright.

“Thunder and Shake” production house

– A director you dream of working with? (with the production company and you personally as an actress)

– As an actress, I would like to work with many directors, some of them being Yavor Gardev, Diana Dobreva, Galin Stoev, Pavel Vesnakov, etc. With Galin Stoev and Yavor Gurdev, I had the happiness and luck to work for a short time respectively at a workshop and as part of my acting courses. It’s been a dream of mine to work with both of them ever since I decided I wanted to do theater.

I have seen many of their performances, some of them several times, and everything I have seen has touched and inspired me a lot. I dream of working with them as an actress, because I think that these are people from whom I can learn a lot about the profession and not only.

Maya Tinkova and Vasilena Kaneva in a scene from P.O.R.N.O. (Photo: Personal Archive)

– On April 30, you have a premiere on the Yalta Art Room stage. What challenges do you find working with a text like Hanoch Levin’s that you use in P.O.R.N.O.?
– It’s interesting for me to reincarnate into so many different characters in a short time, since there are about 20 sketches of Hanoch Levin in the production, which have no connection between them. The characters and situations are very different, but the common thing is that they all have fears that are funny to the audience and a lack of empathy.

But sometimes this is exactly what happens in life itself, we have hyperbolized fears and strong intolerance towards other people around us. Therefore, no matter how absurd Levin’s texts are, they are both very real and up-to-date in their essence.

– Tell us about funny moments from rehearsals.
– Oooh, it’s fun every day at rehearsals, because we laugh so much while playing on stage, sometimes even to tears. Otherwise, it’s funny how the Stara Zagorje dialect breaks out for me sometimes. This happens in the moments when I lose control and am more myself, and my colleagues immediately catch it, since most of them are from Sofia. We laugh, of course. And another funny moment was after one of our rehearsals when one of the guys working at the bar in Yalta asked me what I was playing.

I told him and he was so excited that he asked to play with us in P.O.R.N.O. and asked me to ask our director if he would take him. If necessary, he would have appeared at the casting. It’s interesting how people generally react to the name we settled on. Some are outraged, others are happy, others are intrigued to know what is really behind this title.

Maia Tinkova Photo: Personal archive)

Another thing I can think of is how my colleague Vasilena and I almost always answer in unison. Because in some of the excerpts, we speak at the same time, and apparently it happens that our thoughts are already in sync. When we’re already so deep into the characters and rehearsing every day, we even start talking about things like the states and phases of a banana, which is actually a real character on stage.

– How did you decide on the acting team in P.O.R.N.O.?
– The actors are myself, Vasilena Kaneva, Boyan Petrov and Yordan Varbanov. Actually, I suggested Hanoch Levin’s texts to Veselin Petrov, who is our director, and he agreed to work together. From there, he settled on the rest of the team we’re currently working with. I think he made a great selection.

– What is your opinion about the independent scenes in Bulgaria? Does he need them?
– There is a great need for independent stages and unfortunately there is not much competition at the moment for independent stages, even in Sofia, I would say because there are few places, independent shows are becoming more and more, and some of the conditions of these spaces have to be done compromises.

Either you pay high rent, or the place has other restrictions, etc. And the worst thing for me is that a culture of going to the theater for more independent shows has not yet developed, and that is the reason why they have a short life. Not because they are not good, but simply because people bet either on familiar faces from the screen or on familiar state theaters. Rather, I think that there is a need for systematic work in the direction of attracting more viewers to independent performances.

Maya Tinkova and Vasilena Kaneva in a scene from P.O.R.N.O. (Photo: Personal Archive)

– Why should the audience watch this show?
– Because he’s super fun! These questions have always been the hardest for me to be honest. They’ll just love the whole experience. There is provocation, there is great music, we will even sing a few songs, but don’t be fooled, this is not a musical.

The good thing about black comedy, as the play is, is that not only does it make you laugh, but you also take something away, like reflection and realization of things that have moved you, and continue to move you. I strongly hope that we will speak the same language with the audience and that we will be able to intrigue them.

And after the premiere of “P.O.R.N.O. – Public Organization for the Development of Society” on April 30th, there will be a cocktail party where people who watched us will be able to talk with us and share what they liked and moved, or what they didn’t like, what they missed, and in general everything that was shared with them.

Interview with Mina TAKOVA

On April 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the Yalta Art Room, the premiere of “P.O.R.N.O. – Public Organization for the Disruption of Society” – a black comedy based on sketches by the world-famous playwright Hanoch Levin. The creative team includes Veselin Petrov as the director of the show, the composer of the music and sound environment is Martin Karov, and Irena Doycheva is the scenographer and costume designer. Actors Boyan Petrov, Vasilena Kaneva, Maia Tinkova and Yordan Varbanov are participating. The translation from the Hebrew is by Joseph Benatov.