The first edition of the Perperikon Art Festival in 2001, beset with the many difficulties of any new undertaking, not least of which was the parliamentary election held at the same time, was nonetheless a resounding success. The Festival's programme included performances by four Bulgarian theatre companies and a Macedonian one, Drama, from Skopje. The vocal and instrumental concerts showcased the talents of Ivelina Balcheva, Neshko Neshev and Ivo Papazov. The shows of the Arabesque ballet dancers and Andrei Batashov's Rhythm Studio drew crowds of enthusiastic spectators.

Naturally, the emphasis was lain on drama. On the Festival's first night, the Sfumato Drama Workshop performed Cherno rouno [The Black Fleece]. Written and produced by Margarita Mladenova and Ivan Dobchev, the piece combines conventional theatrical techniques and multimedia to tell the little-known sad story of the Karakaзan ethnic community and bring to light its century-old oral tradition.

Patric Zuskind's Double Bass, adapted for the theatre and produced by Plamen Markov revealed actor Valentin Ganev's exceptional talent, taking the audience into the wonderful world of music and inviting them to reflect on art's mission in today's materialist world.