The young and exceptionally talented Simona Bakalova from Stara Zagora has quickly earned her place on stage, combining her vocal and acting talents. She captivates audiences in the role of Luisa Pulido in the large-scale musical “ZORRO”, presented by State Opera Ruse. Ahead of the company’s guest performance in Stara Zagora – on July 10 at the Summer Theatre – Stara Zagora – we speak with Simona about her role, her passion for the arts, the challenges of performing on a grand stage, and her experience in voice-over work for films.
The role of Luisa Pulido in “ZORRO” is central and very emotional. How do You feel stepping into her shoes?
Luisa is truly a dream role for any actress – she’s emotional, brave, and unwavering in her fight for justice. I try to convey the full spectrum of emotions she goes through – from tenderness to fierce determination. Playing her is both a challenge and a joy for me.
In another interview, you said your biggest dream is to become an artist who inspires people. Are you fulfilling that dream with the role of Luisa in “ZORRO”?
I’d be very happy if that’s the case. Not just me, but all the artists and musicians in the production – if the audience leaves the performance smiling, in high spirits, if they’ve forgotten their everyday worries and immersed themselves in the magic of “ZORRO,” if we’ve made them dream and believe in the power of goodness and love – then we’ve truly inspired them!
“ZORRO” is a large-scale Broadway-style musical. What is it like to work on such a grand project in partnership with Vladimir Zombori and the ensemble of State Opera Ruse?
It’s an honor for me to perform alongside Vladimir Zombori. He’s a wonderful actor with an enchanting musical talent and a kind-hearted person. In a musical – especially one as large-scale as “ZORRO” – you have to combine singing, acting, dancing, and truly connect with your partners, the orchestra, the chorus. Everything has to come together as one. It’s a huge challenge, but incredibly rewarding when you see the magic unfold on stage. And that magic happens thanks to Vladimir Zombori, to the incredible team of professionals from State Opera Ruse – dedicated artists, talented musicians, amazing singers, a fantastic ballet, the director Ivaylo Nenov, the conductor Dimitar Kosev, the choreographer Natalia Osipova, the set designer Petya Boyukova, the translator Vanya Georgieva, and all the colleagues involved in this magical production.
I am grateful to be part of this team.
You are both an actress and a singer. You also do voice-over work for Disney’s biggest titles. How do You balance these passions, and which is closer to Your heart?
I’ve always believed they go hand in hand. For me, singing is an extension of acting, and the other way arround is also valid. When you sing, you’re telling a story; when you act, your voice is an instrument to express emotion. I think they complement each other wonderfully – that’s why the musical genre is so appealing to me. I can’t say which one is closer – they’re two sides of the same coin: my calling.The voice is also essential in dubbing – another dream come true for me. My recent roles are in new films by Disneyand"Universal”: “Lilo & Stitch"I voice Nani andin "How to Train Your Dragon"I voice Astrid.These are titles I grew up with, and now they’re part of my artistic journey – shaping future generations. There’s no greater satisfaction than that!
You’re a graduate of the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA) “Krastyo Sarafov”, majoring in “Puppet Acting”. How has this training helped You in musical theatre?
Puppet theatre provides a very solid foundation for everything. It develops imagination, coordination, rhythm, and the ability to work with a variety of expressive tools. You learn to control your body, your voice, to breathe with the character. All of this translates beautifully onto the big musical stage and helps build a rich, multilayered performance.
You’re about to go on a national tour with “ZORRO.” What message would You like to share with the audience who will soon see you perform?
I’d like to tell them: come with open hearts and souls! “ZORRO” is a show that will take you on a journey through a world of passion, heroism, music, and dance. It carries a message about justice, about standing up for what you believe in, about the power of love and hope. I believe everyone will find something for themselves in this story. Come and experience the magic with us under the stars!
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Simona Bakalova was born in Stara Zagora. She graduated from Maxim Gorky Secondary School, specializing in Spanish with English. She is currently a student at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts “Krastyo Sarafov,” majoring in Puppet Acting in the class of Associate Professor Boryana Georgieva. At the beginning of her third year, she made her professional debut in 2024 in the production Don’t Forget to Sign by Mikhail Heifetz at the Youth Theatre “Nikolay Binev,” directed by Professor Rumen Rachev. A few months later, she made her musical theatre debut as Luisa Pulido in ZORRO, a production of Ruse State Opera. Bakalova has voice roles in Bulgarian dubbing of films by Disney, DreamWorks, and Universal. She took part in Season 8 of the TV show The Voice of Bulgaria, where she was a member of Lyubo Kirov’s team.
Interview by: Liliya Morale
Photo by: Petar Petrov
