Tova ne go kazvay

What lies behind the title? A contemporary French play that asks how far the "red lines" in communication go. Salomé Lelouch's text is built from a series of short scenes in which two people traverse forbidden topics—from intimate confessions and family taboos to political correctness and digital habits. These witty duels of repartee are deliberately stripped of "explanatory notes," so the focus remains on the words—and their price.

The Bulgarian version is directed by Yavor Gardev, who knows the dynamics of stage dialogue inside out and here sustains a brisk tempo with minimalist means. On stage are Teodora Duhovnikova and Zahari Baharov—a partnership with proven chemistry from their previous encounters with the director. Translation by Snezhina Zdravkova, set design by Svila Velichkova, sound design by Genadiy Ivanov, lighting by Stefan N. Shterev. Running time about 90 minutes; recommended age 16+.

The original French production “Fallait pas le dire” (2021) was created for two of the most popular actors in France and received three nominations for the 2022 Molière Awards—"Best Comedy," "Best Author" and "Best Actor in a Private Theatre Production." The Bulgarian stage adaptation started in 2023, met audiences at the "Varna Summer" festival with the author in attendance, and continues a national tour with engagements abroad as well (Germany and Austria).

Why audiences talk about it after it's over

• Everyday situations sharpened to the edge: a dinner-table conversation, a dispute over the "right words," a small habit that becomes a big problem.
• Shifts in tone—from sarcastic humor to painful candor and back again.
• Two actors who carry a whole universe on their own: no orphaned sets, no unnecessary theatrical "noise".

The themes are here and now: the limits of honesty within a couple, social filters, the culture of taking offense, the need to be heard. Viewers often recognize "their own lines" and catch themselves laughing at something they would otherwise have kept to themselves.

If you like contemporary conversational comedies with a fast pace and strong acting presence, this title is a natural choice. And for more daring conversations on stage, browse other hit titles with us—e.g., the tense comedy of situations No Guarantee, the black comedy-noir The Idiot Always Rings Three Times or the romantic clashes in Love by Script in HOLLYWOOD. If you are looking for a more intimate, personal tale—see also All of This Is Her.

In the end, the question the performance lets reverberate remains: when is sincerity a virtue and when is it simply bad manners? The answer is inevitably born in the auditorium—live, between the actors and you.