theater

The final curtain call: Opera House bids farewell to Budapest’s Erkel Theatre

At the end of 2024, the Hungarian government officially announced its decision to create a new state-run theatre. The venue will be the Erkel Theatre building in Pope John Paul II Square (II. János Pál pápa tér), previously used by the Hungarian State Opera House. The new institution, which will aim to promote Hungarian music and dance, will be a 100% state-owned non-profit company and will start operating in January 2025.

According to Index, a budget of HUF 3.5 billion (EUR 8.4 million) has been allocated for the operation of the theatre until 2025, with additional funds to be added in subsequent years. The Opera House will receive HUF 2 billion (EUR 4.8 million) in compensation for the transfer of the theatre’s equipment and furnishings.

The Minister of National Economy will be responsible for the establishment of the company and will also be in charge of concluding the property management contracts for the Erkel building in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture. The Minister of Culture and Innovation will also exercise ownership rights over the property.

Management and aims of the new theatre

Péter Cseke, currently Director of the Katona József National Theatre in Kecskemét, and Vajk Szente, a director and actor, have been selected to lead the new musical-dance theatre. The concept for the new theatre was drawn up four years ago, but only now, under Balázs Hankó’s ministership, has the project been accelerated.

The new institution will specialise in musicals and musical productions, taking advantage of the Erkel Theatre’s previous experience in promoting the genre. Previous productions, such as The Musical Pushkin or The Heart of Stone – The Baradlay Legend, have already foreshadowed this direction. The new management’s aim is to create a cultural space that serves the needs of audiences with both modern music, dance performances and classical works.

Farewell to the Opera House

From the 1st of January 2025, the Opera House will officially hand over the operation of the Erkel Theatre to the new institution but will say goodbye to the venue with several more performances in the first three months of the year. These will include Verdi’s “Traviata” and Pongrác Kacsóh’s “János vitéz”. The highlight of the season will be a performance of Schoenberg’s “Gurre-Lieder”, which will also mark the Opera House’s official farewell to the Erkel Theatre.

According to Index, there will be performances open to the public until March, but from spring 2025, the new theatre will take over the building and the artistic work that takes place there. The new management aims to create a progressive institution that supports the national music and dance culture.

The plan to make the Erkel Theatre independent has been on the agenda for a long time. Although there has been considerable resistance from the Opera House in the past, budgetary support and convincing arguments from the professionals involved in the project have helped to make it a reality. The new theatre will be a worthy successor to the rich history of the Erkel while attracting new audiences through music and dance.

Read also:

January 7, 2025

Woody Allen sent a heartwarming VIDEO message to Hungary and Budapest

The world premiere of Woody Allen’s ‘Brooklyn Story’ occured yesterday in Budapest. Therefore, the American filmmaker, actor, and comedian sent a video message to his Hungarian fans, Hungary and Budapest.

Interestingly, Woody Allen wrote the play during the pandemic. It tells the story of a gangster and his family as they acquire a stolen Raphael. As a result, they have to negotiate with various people searching for the painting, from the police to the mob. The story aims to reveal whether art can make people better.

In Budapest, Orlai Production staged the comedy. The main cast included “Máté Mészáros, Zsuzsa Járó, Judit Cseh, Milán Schruff, Lili László, Dominika Panna Bíró, Barnabás Rohonyi, Barnabás Dékány, Martin Mészáros, and Béla Ficzere. The production is directed by Máté Szabó, with the Hungarian text by Gergely Zöldi, set design by Csörsz Khell, and costumes by Györgyi Szakács”, woodyallenpages.com wrote.

The premiere was in the Belvárosi Színház (“City Centre Theatre”).

Woody Allen (88) sent a message to the Hungarians before the Budapest world premiere

Woody Allen thanked everybody who contributed to putting his play on stage for the hard work. He said Budapest had always been a meaningful city for him since he had some wonderful jazz concerts here. He added that he made a highly successful film in the Hungarian capital (“Love and Death”) and had the privilege of living here for a few months.

“I had a charming time there”, he highlighted. He said that the Hungarian level of acting and directing was high, so he was not concerned at all about the premiere of his play. “Everybody is first class, so I’m completely relaxed”, he added, despite being thousands of miles away.

He said that in a few weeks, he would turn 89, so half of his life was over already. He hopes that in the second half, he will get a chance to return to Budapest to make another film here.

You may watch his full video video message here:

And finally, here is the trailer of the play:

Read also:

Woody Allen talks about his time in Kádár’s Hungary
Victoria Beckham shares viral VIDEO of Hungarian supermodel Barbara Palvin

October 5, 2024

VIDEO: Hungarian shadow theatre in America’s Got Talent Quarterfinals

“America’s Got Talent” featured Hungarian talent too, US Embassy Budapest wrote.

“Congratulations to the young performers of the Hungarian shadow theatre, Attraction Juniors, who recently showed their creativity and skill at the legendary American talent show. They performed live but did not earn enough votes for the Semifinals. Still, they definitely stole the hearts of the famous jury, the audience – and us“, the embassy said.

You can meet Attraction Juniors on 19 October in the Budapest Arena. Details HERE.

Here is their last performance:

Read also:

Hungarian shadow theatre group astonished America’s Got Talent – details and videos in THIS article

August 18, 2024

Awesome: Hungarian shadow theatre group astonished America’s Got Talent

It seems that the success story of the attraction shadow theatre may happen again in America. The disciples of the Hungarian shadow theatre, Attraction Juniors, including even child performers, astonished the jury of America’s Got Talent and advanced to the next stage with four ‘Yes’ votes. Congratulations!

Unique success of the Hungarian shadow theatre

In 2013, the jury of Britain’s Got Talent watched an unparalleled shadow theatre performance in London. The Hungarian Attraction amused all four members, even the otherwise harsh critics. Finally, they won the talent show, being the first and yet the only foreign group able to win Britain’s Got Talent.

Now their disciples, Attraction Juniors, went to Los Angeles in the United States with the same goal and – without a shadow of a doubt – made the first step towards becoming at least as popular and loved as the previous shadow theatre group.

Hungarian kids and teenagers may advance to the top in America

According to index.hu, the group tried to compete in Britain’s Got Talent, but could not advance to the live show. Meanwhile, Attraction is preparing for its first full-night performance on 19 October.

Attraction Junior is a team of 8-18-year-old children and young teenagers. They tried to repeat the success of the Attraction in 2022 in London, performing about school bullying on Marisha Wallace’s Tomorrow. They fascinated the audience, and many people struggled with tears. However, they could not advance to the live show despite the millions of people who watched their performance, which you can watch below:

Attraction Juniors in America’s Got Talent live TV show

They did not give up and went to Los Angeles to perform in America’s Got Talent, the other popular branch of the franchise. Their “Dreams really do come true” performance astonished the jury and the audience. Moreover, they even got permission to use Taylor Swift’s The Lucky One.

They advanced to the live show from more than 100 thousand applicants. Now, they are among the 55 productions and will start to compete in the live show from August 2024.

Attraction was led by Zoltán Szűcs, and Attraction Juniors’ head is his son, Márton Szűcs (21).

Here is their America’s Got Talent performance, also touching on the issue of bullying:

Read also:

Hungarian theatre group Attraction amazes American judges! – VIDEO and more in THIS article
Outstanding Hungarian performers who conquered international talent shows – VIDEOS and details HERE

July 4, 2024

Encore! An evening with the stars of the West End in Budapest

Encore! A Night With West End Stars, scheduled for April 13, 2024, promises an extraordinary showcase featuring the brightest stars from Broadway and the West End, accompanied by the magnificent 50-piece Budapest Symphony Orchestra.

This one-night-only event will feature performances from the most beloved musicals of all time, including “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Misérables,” “Cats,” and many more, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the magic of these iconic shows in Budapest.

Event Highlights:

Star-Studded Cast: Leading performers direct from Broadway and the West End grace our stage, including Rachel Tucker, Ben Forster, Jenna Boyd, Matt Blaker, Lauren Byrne, and Mary Jean Caldwell.
Iconic Musicals: Revel in the best of musical theatre with songs from timeless classics.
Magnificent Orchestra: Experience the music of the West End brought to life by a full 50 Piece live orchestra.

Date, venue and tickets

Date: Saturday, 13 April 2024

Time: 20:00 22:00

Address: Erkel Theater – 30 II. János Pál pápa térBudapest, 1081Hungary (map)

Tickets are now available HERE.

For more information, including the full cast list and program encoreontour.com.

A Month Full of Drama: Budapest’s National Theatre in April

In an age where digital entertainment dominates our leisure time, from binge-watching series on Netflix to engaging in nyerőgépes játékok online, it’s refreshing to see the timeless allure of live theater still capturing hearts. April in Budapest is not just about spring flowers, it’s also a time when the National Theatre becomes a hub of excitement with plays for everyone. From the thrilling to the funny, there’s something for all. This article will tell you all about the great plays happening in April 2024 at this famous theatre.

What’s On the Stage?

Starting in April, get ready for a journey through old and new stories. The play “Don Juan” by Molière takes the Main Stage on April 2nd at 7 PM, offering a classic tale of adventure and romance. Fast forward to April 3rd, and you’ll find two different plays: “Imaginations following Peer Gynt” at 7 PM on the Gobbi Hilda Stage, and “WOYZECK” by Georg Büchner at 7:30 PM on the Kaszás Attila Stage. These plays promise to make you think and feel deeply about life and people.

As the days go by, the variety grows. For example, on April 4th, “The Government Inspector” by Nikolai Gogol hits the Main Stage at 7 PM, showing the funny side of human nature. Then, on April 6th, a modern take on a classic story “ODYSSEUS” ,based on Homer and written by Alexander Sekulov, is set for 7 PM but this time as part of the MITEM festival.

The Places for Plays

The National Theatre has many special spots for its shows. The Main Stage is where the big shows happen. It’s a place where everyone can enjoy the magic of theater together. Then there’s the Gobbi Hilda Stage, a smaller, cozier place for unique stories. The Kaszás Attila Stage offers its own special shows, making it easier for every story to find its perfect spot.

Not just these, but places like the Bajor Gizi Saloon and the Theater’s Garden add more charm. Each spot in the theatre has its own feel, making every play even more special. Whether it’s a big, exciting story on the Main Stage or a quiet, thoughtful play in one of the smaller spaces, there’s always a perfect place for each tale.

Join the Fun

April at the National Theatre is like a big box of stories waiting to be opened. It’s a chance to see something new, feel different emotions, and maybe even think about life in new ways. In today’s world, where we often watch shows alone on screens, coming to the theatre brings us together with others. It’s a place to share laughs, tears, and thoughts.

So, this April, why not take a break from watching shows at home or playing games on your phone? Come to the National Theatre and see a play. It’s a great way to enjoy the arts and be part of something special. Every play is a new adventure, and who knows? You might find a new favorite story or meet new friends. The theatre is waiting to welcome you to a month filled with amazing performances.

April 2, 2024

Performances with English subtitles at Vígszínház from March

From March, four of our highly successful shows, The Great Dictator, The Great Gatsby, Cabaret and The Seagull can be seen with English subtitles at Vígszínház. Stage adaptations of internationally well-known titles promise an exciting experience for foreigners living in Hungary and tourists visiting our country.

From March, four shows can be seen with English subtitles at Vígszínház.

Charlie Chaplin’s most influential work, The Great Dictator can be viewed with Attila Vidnyánszky Jr. in the main role. In the dual role of the little barber and the big dictator, the deeply humanistic work is sometimes mercilessly sarcastic, and sometimes it relieves our anxiety with the tools of clown jokes.

The Great Dictator:

25 March 2024 Monday 7 pm (100th performance)

15 April 2024 Monday 7 pm

23 April 2024 Thursday 7 pm

The characters of the cult novel The Great Gatsby come to life on the stage of Vígszínház. Gatsby, a dandy boy with a mysterious past, creates a luxurious world around himself to win back the great love of his life, Daisy. We invite our audience here, to this world full of luxury, turbulence and despair, which is driven by a single, endless question: where are you?

The Great Gatsby:

17 March 2024 Sunday 2.30 pm

17 March 2024 Sunday 7 pm

12 April 2024 Friday 2.30 pm

12 April 2024 Friday 7 pm

24 April 2024 Wednesday 7 pm

The world-famous musical Cabaret by Joe Masteroff, John Kander and Fred Ebb takes the audience into the Berlin night of the 1930s. Into the realm of intoxication, undisguised desires and boundless passions. However, history casts a dark shadow over the events, terror and inhumanity creep into people’s everyday lives almost imperceptibly. The spectacular musical production, full of popular hits is directed by Attila Béres at Vígszínház.

Cabaret:

17 April 2024 Wednesday 7 pm

Chekhov’s The Seagull is one of the greatest works of dramatic literature. A real masterpiece, an irregular comedy that is considered to be the writer’s most personal confession. It contains all the pain of unrequited love, the endless love of the theater, the eternal search for happiness, the struggle against loneliness and mediocrity. At the Vígszínház, Chekhov’s masterpiece can be seen in David Doiasvili’s direction featuring exciting solutions.

The Seagull:

21 March 2024 Thursday 7 pm

16 May 2024 Thursday 4 pm

25 May 2024 Saturday 2.30 pm

Please note that the inscription is best seen on the ground floor from rows 10-20 and from the first two rows of the balcony.

Tickets and more here.

Classic transformed into modern show: ‘The Little Prince’ in Budapest

2023 marks the 80th anniversary of the first edition of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s novel “The Little Prince”. Translated into 250 languages and selling over 200 million copies, it has become the second best-selling book of all time. The Broadway Entertainment Group has created a theatrical production of this classic, which will be available in Budapest from February 14, 2024. The latest stage adaptation, filled with theatrical spectacles, dance, and acrobatics, also incorporates the relatively unknown videomapping technology, literally bringing to life the beloved classic adventure story for multiple generations.

The creative team behind “The Little Prince” production is led by director and choreographer Anne Tournié, with co-director Chris Mouron responsible for the script and original music composed by Terry Truck. Additional team members include Noellie Bordelet as assistant choreographer, Marie Jumelin as video designer, Peggy Housset as costume designer, Stéphane Fritsch as lighting designer, Tristan Viscogliosi as sound designer, Etienne Beaussart as projection designer, Carmen Arbues Miro as hairstylist and makeup artist, and Aurélie Gandilhon as prop master.

In terms of genre, the performance is a choreographic adaptation, combining contemporary dance and modern circus. The narrator is the sole character who speaks during the show, while all other artists, coming from various parts of the world – China, India, Poland, France, Italy – have backgrounds in circus or contemporary dance and express themselves through choreography and acrobatics.

The key members of the international cast include Lionel Zalachas (The Little Prince), Chris Mouron (The Narrator), Aurélien Bednarek (The Aviator), Helena De Graeve (The rose), Romeo Langlios (The Vain), Marcin Janiak (The Lamplighter), and Joän Bertrand (The King).

“The Little Prince” premiered in Paris in 2019 and embarked on a worldwide tour. In 2020, it was presented in Dubai, followed by Sydney in 2021 and a full season on Broadway in New York in 2022. In late 2023 the show was in Lisbon, and in January 2024, it returned to Dubai, followed by a performance in Budapest in February before heading to Prague.

“We eagerly anticipate the continuation of the journey in Budapest. As the Little Prince travels, he encounters various people and cultures, conveying the message of love to everyone. We’ve humbly translated the story of friendship, loneliness, love, and care for others and our planet into the backdrop of the Sahara Desert,” said director Anne Tournié about the performance.

The Little Prince will be performed 7 times in Budapest between 14 and 18 February 2024 at the Erkel Theatre in French with Hungarian subtitles. For more information, visit www.thelittleprincetour.eu.

Read also:

February 12, 2024

Eva Duda Company hosts an exclusive sponsorship gala evening at the Vígszínház

The Eva Duda Company, which is starting its 15th season, will organise an exclusive sponsors’ gala evening on the main stage of the Vígszínház with the participation of guest artists. The two-act evening will evoke the company’s main milestones to date, as well as exciting collaborations, featuring dance, music and theatre, among other renowned guest performers: László Dés composer, Katalin Lőrinc dance artist, Ervin Nagy actor, Petra Gubik actress, Tamás Szabó Kimmel actor, Artúr Kálid actor, Eszter Földes actress, Giorgio Fekete, singer of Carson Coma, Sena DagaDub, Dániel Dinyés composer-conductor and Klára Kolonits opera singer, FollowTheViolin, aka Izsák Farkas violinist and Dávid Szarvas musician.

At the beginning of the 15th season, despite its outstanding work and success on both the national and international scene, there is no secure operational backgorund for the organisation. In April 2023, the company launched an innovative initiative: a unique support campaign in which 20 ambassadors stood up for free dance, free creation and the Eva Duda Company, including public figures, leading representatives of the cultural scene and civic activists. Following a successful campaign, they will seek new ways and opportunities again in the autumn, following international trends, to build a committed group of supporters to create freely and to communicate contemporary culture in Hungary at a high level. As a continuation of the “Shall we dance?” campaign, the gala evening on 26th of November aims to raise awareness of the financial challenges facing the independent theatre and dance sector, with proceeds from the event helping the company to operate in a more sustainable and long-term way.

The Eva Duda Company has become an unavoidable part of the Hungarian dance scene, with more than 10,000 spectators enjoying their performances every year. Their main venue is the National Dance Theatre, and they also perform with great success at national and international festivals. Their mission is to bring contemporary dance to new audiences and new social groups. The link between social responsibility and art is important to them. The company is characterised by

uniqueness, innovation, and dynamism – thanks to the complex knowledge and suggestive performance qualities of its performers and the diversity of its repertoire.

Éva Duda is a multi-award-winning choreographer and director working in a variety of genres. In addition to creating dance performances, she has choreographed various musical productions, movement theatre performances, large-scale operas, musicals and films. Éva Duda’s emblematic stone theatre choreographies are closely linked to the Vígszínház, and her unique movement world is represented in productions such as the Beggar’s Opera, Horses Will Be Shot, Romeo and Juliet, Fiddler on the Roof and the current highly successful production The Castle.

Date: 26 November, Sunday, 7 pm

Venue: Vígszínház – Szent István krt. 14, Budapest, 1137

Further information here.

Vidnyánszky, director of the National Theatre, resigns due to heavy theatre accident

National Theatre director Attila Vidnyánszky has resigned from his post, the theatre said on Monday.

The theatre told daily Magyar Nemzet in a statement that Vidnyánszky resigned in the wake of an accident that had happened in the theatre on Friday. He has informed János Csák, the minister of culture, about the decision, the statement added.

According to his biographical data, Attila Vidnyánszky, who was born in Berehovo (Beregszász), Ukraine, was appointed director of the National Theatre on 17 December 2012, effective 1 July 2013. In 2018 he was given another five-year mandate until 2023, and in 2023 it was extended for another five years, so he would have remained director until 2028. No news yet on his successor.

As we wrote today, two actors had been taken to hospital and a performance of Romeo and Juliet was interrupted after they fell behind the scenery from an elevated platform. Details HERE.

November 13, 2023

Terrible accident at Hungarian National Theater, actors in serious condition – UPDATE

A serious accident happened during a performance of Romeo and Juliet on Friday at the National Theater. The condition of the two actors is serious but stable.

“Due to an accident, our production of Romeo and Juliet was interrupted today. More information will be given later.” This post was published by the National Theatre on Friday, and on Saturday, also on the institution’s social media page, the general manager, Attila Vidnyánszky, wrote that the second act was interrupted due to an accident involving Júlia Szász and Lajos Ottó Horváth.

The paramedics who arrived shortly after the incident treated the two artists on the spot and took them to hospital. Under the circumstances, they are doing well. The circumstances of the accident are under investigation. Several media outlets have reported that the artists have undergone surgery and their condition is serious but stable and not life-threatening.

According to Blikk, a Hungarian tabloid, before the accident, Lajos Ottó Horváth was holding Júlia Szász on a small balcony, and the actor became dizzy, both fell over the railing and then fell several meters onto the stage’s boards. They suffered injuries and fractures so severe that their recovery could take several months.

The production of Romeo and Juliet, directed by Attila Vidnyánszky, premiered at the National Theatre on 11 June 2021, and since then, the audience has been thrilled by the story of the lovers.

According to the official statement of the National Theatre, the investigation is ongoing, so they cannot give any further information. The most important thing for them is the recovery of the two actors involved and the organisation of the changes in the performances. They will inform the public as soon as possible.

As we wrote a few days ago, the body of Hungarian woman found in Italian seaside hotel, details here.

UPDATE

Vidnyánszky, director of the National Theatre, resigns due to heavy theatre accident, details HERE.

November 13, 2023

South Korea celebrates its National Day with special concert in Budapest

South Korea Hungary national day 2023 (2)

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea made their national day in Budapest a truly memorable one, as they hosted a grand reception to mark the special occasion, followed by a concert never seen before in Hungary at the Erkel Theatre on the evening of 21 September.

Nowadays, the Republic of Korea plays an important role in the Hungarian economy, and relations with the Asian country are accordingly very close. The Embassy organised an extremely high-quality event in Budapest, as in addition to the diplomatic standing reception, they also brought a concert to Budapest that is rarely seen in Europe.

The closed reception was attended by the entire Hungarian diplomatic corps, signalling that South Korea is highly regarded around the world. In his welcome speech, Korean Ambassador Hong Kyu Dok said that South Korea regards Budapest as a key economic partner. He stressed that in the 1990s, it was in the Central European region that investment first started to come to Hungary, and cooperation has been unbroken ever since. Thanks to the excellent partnership, more than 300 Korean companies are already operating in Hungary. What is more, in recent years, South Korea has become one of the largest foreign investors in Hungary. A good example of the close diplomatic relations is the recent talks between President Katalin Novák and her Korean counterpart, President Yoon Suk Yeol, in New York.

Prof. Dr. András Zs. Varga, President of the Curia, welcomed the guests and praised the close relations between the two countries. After the speeches, the reception included a tasting of several traditional Korean dishes.

At 7 PM, JONGMYO JERYEAK performed in front of a full house. The truly special performance brought the ancient ritual music and dance of the royalty of Korea to the Hungarian capital. Jongmyo jeryeak refers to the music and dance accompanying Jongmyo jerye, the ancient rituals performed at the royal shrine of the Jongmyo, the Joseon dynasty, which the Jongmyo performed for about six centuries.

September 22, 2023

Tragedy: Influential Hungarian theatre to close its doors for good

“We regret to announce that our theatre activities at the Átrium will end at the end of the current season, in the summer of 2024,” the Átrium theatre’s Facebook page says. The institution has been struggling with funding problems and has been making up for the lack of resources with community funding. Unfortunately, now it has decided to close permanently.

Átrium forced to close at the end of the season

“Last summer’s community stand for the Átrium gave the whole theatre team an incredible boost and strength, and we have been living off this energy ever since, but we have to admit that there is no hope of continuing our work in a decent and predictable environment. Our supporters have been given an accurate account of how their donations have been used, they have seen how important their contribution has been to our current survival – but you can’t just survive every year,” Átrium wrote in its post.

“We maintain an institution where one person works instead of three, where you can’t give less than 120 percent, where everything hangs by a thread. We want to finish before it starts to affect our artistic work, the mental and physical health of our colleagues. The current situation is unsustainable both humanly and professionally,” the post reads.

“We are tired, because this tightrope walk, which has been going on for five years now, takes away the curious and creative energy that makes theatre worthwhile and enjoyable,”

Átrium adds.

“We have one season left to say goodbye together to the theatre we are making. We would like to be free to rejoice together that there is one more season to go, and we welcome everyone!” they conclude.

Supporters and fans are heartbroken

Understandably, theatre-goers and supporters are devastated by the sad news. “I am very very sad, just digesting in silence and with tears in my eyes! My most impactful theatre experiences were at Átrium, shared with my daughter and our friends! Something is broken, torn! The dark feudalism remains…,” one of them wrote.

“I am very very sorry… We have you to thank for unforgettable performances and wonderful theatre evenings! We will be with you every night as long as we can, and in our hearts forever! May the curse of my God be upon all those who did this!” another supporter wrote.

“Why does history repeat itself??? I feel unspeakably hopeless and sad. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything! And we will keep going, we will keep going as long as we can.”

August 21, 2023

Béla Lugosi: The best Dracula of all time and the tragic end of his life

Béla Lugosi is one of those Hungarians whose name sounds familiar to people all around the world. To this day, he is the most authentic, best-known cinematic Dracula of all time, the star of the first horror films. He even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But did you know that his death was caused by morphine?

His life

Béla Blaskó was born in 1882 in the western part of Transylvania, in the town of Lugos. He later chose the name Béla Lugosi (literally Béla from Lugos), which became known throughout the world. Already in primary school, he was interested in drama, Blikk writes. At the age of twelve, he escaped from home. He played in Szabadka, Timișoara, Szeged and then in the National Theatre in Budapest. There, he was cast as Jesus Christ in a play.

He fought in the Hungarian Army during WWI and was wounded several times. Already at this time, his physical and mental pain was relieved by strong medication. This later sealed his fate. He emigrated to the US in the late 1920s. He had difficulty with English, so he first played in Hungarian for the other emigrants. His first English roles were written phonetically on paper: he didn’t even know what he was saying. He was extremely enthusiastic though, so he got noticed.

Dracula and morphine: His rise and fall

béla lugosi — Béla Lugosi in 1912. Source: Wikipedia.

After Lon Chaney, who had played the Phantom of the Opera and the Hunchback of Notre Dame, died in an accident, Lugosi was immediately signed on to star in the new Dracula film in 1931. His famous monologue (“I never drink… wine”) became a catchphrase around the world, and his authentic subtlety was taught in the film schools of the US.

By 1949, his injuries from WWI were so painful that he injected himself with three doses of morphine a day, first on doctor’s orders and later on his own idea. He did not intend to hide it. He was the first one out of all the Hollywood stars to confess his addiction on a live show in America.

His friends made him play in films that were doomed to fail from the start, but even this could not help his financial problems: he even had to sell his villa. (It was later home to Johnny Depp for a time, further reinforcing the curse of the drug-addled villa, Blikk notes.)

His death

hollywood walk of fame béla lugosi — Béla Lugosi’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Source: Wikimedia Commons/JGKlein

He considered himself a true Hungarian all along. He was preparing to come home, but he did not live to see the 1956 revolution. He died of a heart attack at the age of 73. He was laid to rest in one of his cinematic Dracula cloaks by his friends in a cemetery in a small town in California.

August 7, 2023

New TV channel launched in Hungary

A new thematic TV channel broadcasting only Hungarian films was added to the television programme offer in Hungary. Magyar Mozi TV (Hungarian Cinema TV) started broadcasting on Wednesday 1 March at 1 PM with the drama The Count of Fools. DIGI and Vodafone Hungary will test the newly launched channel over the next 3 months.

As the name suggests, Magyar Mozi TV will broadcast Hungarian-produced programmes. Its offerings range from popular TV series to classics and the latest films. Besides feature films, the channel also plans to show Hungarian short films, documentaries and animations. According to Index, theatre fans will also find programmes to their liking, as there will also be theatre broadcasts on Magyar Mozi TV.

New Hungarian Magyar Mozi TV programme — Photo: Facebook/Magyar Mozi TV

Read also: New routes to start from Budapest Airport this spring

New TV programme to make Hungarian films widely known

The channel is launched by Tematic Media Group. “Their mission is to provide a platform for Hungarian films in the making and to enable filmmakers to make their work widely known,” the company said in a statement.

“Quality and entertainment are the main criteria when it comes to the programme. We want to bring to the audience the many excellent films that have been made over the past decades but are not widely seen on other channels. At the same time, we consider it equally important to show contemporary works. In today’s infinitely divided world, we here at Magyar Mozi TV want to show what connects us all,” said Márta Kertész, the channel’s editor-in-chief.

The channel’s March line-up

Magyar Mozi TV has already been included in the offer of Digi and Vodafone. The new content is available to DIGI subscribers through automatic or manual channel scanning at one of the following programme positions, depending on the service area: stations 101, 117, 168, 169, 182, 183 or 222, and at the end of the channel line-up in case of individual channel allocation. For Vodafone subscribers, the new channel is available at programme station 78.

Some titles from the channel’s March line-up include contemporary films such as Son of Saul, Space Picnic and Erasing Frank. Films from the 80s and 90s are also on show: Ripacsok, Time Stands Still, Junk Movie, The Fifth Seal, The Kangaroo and The Lovely Green Grass.

The two companies will test the newly launched channel over the next 3 months. Of course, the company’s management is also in talks with other operators to reach as many viewers as possible with the channel.

As we wrote earlier, the new streaming service provider SkyShowtime also arrived to Hungary not so long ago. The service provider launched on 14 February, with a subscription fee of HUF 1,999 (EUR 5.36) per month.

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March 3, 2023

Renowned Hungarian theatre closes due to the crisis

The well-known and loved Katona József National Theatre in Kecskemét will close for January. The decision was forced on the management by the energy crisis.

The Kecskemét theatre posted the following message on Facebook: “From 1 January 2023, all three venues of the Katona József National Theatre in Kecskemét will be closed. The main theatre and the studio theatre will reopen on 1 February, while the chamber theatre will only resume work in mid-March. The decision taken by the management is unavoidable, but we assure you that you will not miss anything this season.”

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Season ticket holders can be reassured that the number of performances will be maintained, and those who would like to buy tickets can do so on the ground floor of the Malom Centre during closing hours, 24.hu reports.

The institution in Kecskemét is the umpteenth theatre to take a forced winter break. Some of them will only have performances on weekends. In Miskolc, a fundraising campaign has been launched for the theatre. In Szeged, a whole series of cultural institutions are closing. Those that will remain open are also worried across the country: will they have an audience even in the middle of the crisis?

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November 6, 2022

Energy crisis: drastic steps for theatres in Budapest

The József Attila Theatre has to implement some changes due to the energy crisis. One of these measures is to only play on weekends. Like this, they do not have to heat the building on the other days of the week, ATV Híradó reported. Other theatres have also decided to make savings.

Reviewing their November programme, which has already been released, and their December programme, which is in the pipeline, they saw that the easiest way to save energy was to target the weekends and play on those days, director Károly Nemcsák told Híradó. However, he could not say how long this measure would last, napi.hu reports.

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At the Vígszínház, they expect that “the audience will warm up the space” at sold-out performances. Zoltán Mádi, the economic director, said that the temperature will rise from 22 to 24 degrees Celsius like that. Still, a number of cost-cutting measures have been taken. In rehearsals on the main stage, only working lights are used, the windows have been insulated and the boiler has been replaced.

At the Centrál Theatre, overheads have quadrupled. Previously heated with gas, they are now planning to install air conditioning in the main hall, but this will cost tens of millions of forints. Director Tamás Puskás said that this is “eating away” at their future, atv.hu reports.

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October 27, 2022

Award-winning Swedish play is coming to Budapest!

A famous Swedish actor, Lennart R Svensson known for movies like Midsommar, The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo is now coming to Budapest to perform his award-winning play Helluvaguy that he already performed in 17 different country.

Helluvaguy is a musical one-man performance of August Strindberg and male attitudes. In this poetic, comic and emotional performance we meet Strindberg slumped and alone. He tells us about his life, about his mother and father and about his three ex-wives. He talks about what it’s like to be a writer. And about how excellent he is. And about his love. And about his women. Women… In the performance Lennart sings nine songs with lyrics by August Strindberg and music by Gunnar Edander.

The show premiered in November 1992 at Klara Soup Theatre and has so far been played almost 300 times, both in Swedish and English.

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Idea and improvisations: Lennart R Svensson
lyrics and direction: Agneta Elers-Jarleman
Texts and lyrics: August Strindberg
Poetry processing, music and piano: Gunnar Edander
Scenography and costumography: Monica Elers

Lennart is a Swedish professional established actor.

He graduated from the Swedish Dramatic Academy in Stockholm in 1978. After that he worked at Stockholm City Theatre, where he was employed for 30 years. Being an all-round actor, he played in comedies, dramas, and musicals. Over the years he has also participated in over 19 TV-series, 12 Movies, 15 short movies, 49 Video productions, 6 TV-films and guest appearances in over 30 TV-programs.
He was one of the first actors in Sweden who started to work with Impro in the Keith Johnston technique and won one of the worlds Impro championships in Brisbane 1988.

He has directed 15 theatre productions and works now as a freelance actor and director. For 30 years he has played HELLUVAGUY almost 300 times with performances in 17 countries. He did two tours with the play in the US. He plays rhythm guitar in a Gypsy jazz trio and loves being in the kitchen cooking.

Hungarian premiere of the Helluvaguy is provided by Swedish institute and Swedish embassy and organized by Asterion Project Theatre in English, a Multicultural Theatre company led by a Croatian actress and director Čarna Kršul.

Further details:

Venue: RS9 (Rumbach Sebestyén utca 9)
Date and time: 14 October, 7:30 PM
Tickets: HERE
Facebook event: HERE

October 2, 2022