THE WHITELISTED:
“Where the Play Meets the Truth”

Our story began in 2011 in New York City, where The Whitelisted Theatre Company established itself as an international hub for bold and uncompromising theatre. From productions such as Biljana Srbljanović’s “Belgrade Trilogy”—to the visually electrifying “The Hurtling Stillness” (based on texts by Dejan Dukovski, directed by Tihomir Andonov and Teodor Petelov), our path has always been a profound exploration of the boundaries of human presence.

In 2020, Victoria Paneva and Teodor Petelov brought this global expertise to Sofia, founding The Whitelisted Acting Studio.

Today, we are one of the leading acting schools in Europe and the first in Bulgaria to conduct training entirely in English, blurring the lines between the local and the global stage.

The Methodology: Beyond Technique

At the core of our philosophy lies the concept of Homo Ludens — the "playing human." We believe that theatre is a return to our primal urge for authentic connection. While our foundation is built on the Sanford Meisner Technique, our signature methodology is a fusion of the world's best practices. We integrate key elements from the Michael Chekhov Technique to develop versatile, adaptive, and emotionally perceptive artists.
Exploring World Dramaturgy: From classical masterpieces to the contemporary avant-garde, we dive deep into texts to uncover universal human truths.
Impulse and Response: We teach actors to escape the trap of "overthinking" and begin truly "living" in “the here and now”.
Preparing for the Global Stage: Our instructors successfully prepare candidates for the most prestigious theatre universities and conservatories worldwide.
The Faces Behind the Project

The studio is led by Victoria Paneva and Teodor Petelov — active actors and directors with extensive experience in international film and theatre productions. We work with a dedicated team of established professional choreographers, vocal coaches, and acting instructors. Together, they dedicate their energy to passing on their expertise to talents of all ages — from children discovering art for the first time to professional artists seeking new horizons for their creative expression.

Inspired by You

“The Whitelisted is a community for those seeking undeniable truth. Whether your goal is the grand stage, international cinema, or deep personal growth, our studio is the place where skills are transformed into art.”