On the Grand Boulevard of Budapest, just one hundred feet from the river Danube, stands an impressive theatre building. Its elegant and radiant late-nineteen-century design makes it the final section of the Boulevard's most attractive building. Evening, that time of the day when theatres are most alive, finds it in full bloom. It is no wonder that so many people fall in love with the building on first sight. The Vígszínház is one of the finest examples of theatre buildings designed by Fellner and Helmer, whose 19th century "new-standard theatres" can be found scattered across central Europe.
Cooperation between Vígszínház, the Schauspiel Stuttgart and theatres from Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Norway, Romania and Ukraine. What happened to the dialogue that a united European community once wanted to initiate? The financial and the refugee crises of recent years have shown us the fragility of the European set of values. Common initiatives give place to the idea of nation states with defined territorial borders. The Schengen Agreement cracks. The “Regions of Europe” show their barb-wired faces along the so-called Balkan Route. Brexit is a done deal. AfD became the third strongest political party in Germany, illustrating how right-wing extremists turned from individual phenomena to a real political force all over Europe.
Georges Feydeau is the creator of an insanely happy universe. He is capable of tormenting his audience with three hours of nonstop laughter. A grand engineer of theatrical effects, he accurately observes human games and presents them with gleeful irony. In Free Exchange Hotel men and women frantically chase each other and their desires from one hotel room to the next, losing the meaning of life and their pants on the way. In Feydeau’s comedies, under the brightly polished surface hide the horrors of life, which Jean Cocteau compared to the world of Franz Kafka.
Saint Petersburg, 1869. The gap between rich and poor is getting wider and wider. The sumptuously dressed leaders of the country do nothing but plump themselves. Money, selfishness and superficiality become priorities in everyday life. The streets are noisy and dirty. There is pub below every house, and a brothel on the first floor. Fathers and sons go blind drinking vodka as they are trying to forget that once they were humans. Mothers and daughters sell their bodies on the upper floors. This is the world Dostoyevsky sees from one of the windows of his corner flat. From the other he can see the tip of a distant church tower. Dostoyevsky sits down by his desk and starts to write. Could the love of Christ save the world? – Goes his question, which the young creative team with Attila Vidnyánszky Jr in the lead, tries to answer.
In January 2018 we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the premiere of legendary musical, The Attic. Over the last three decades generations have grown up watching this moving tale. The jubilee performance will see some of the old cast back on stage, and will have some surprises in store for those who wish to celebrate with us.
What does Attila József mean to us? We know his life. We all have our favourite József poem. We keep reinterpreting his lines, as we grow older. But we rarely consider the devastating passion and yearning to love, which burned inside him.
Hamlet, the heir to the Danish throne, arrives home to the funeral of his father. He finds his mother married to his uncle, the new king. Mourning turns into a wedding.
Ferdinand, King of Navarre, and his three noble companions take an oath not to give in to the company of women.
Bonfire is about the anomalies of life in Romania following the fall of dictator, Nikolai Ceaușescu, as seen through the eyes of a young teen, Emma.
The play has been a huge success on both Broadway and the West End. It is not simply just entertaining but also very timely, since the relationship between Great Briatin and the European continent has recently become a major issue again. With actress Judit Halász in the role of Queen Elisabeth II.
Dostoyevsky is the greatest depictor of the human soul. His famous crime novel tells the story of a brutal murder and the investigation that follows. Is there a situation that allows, what is more, demands the killing of a human? The question not only fascinates Raskolnikov, but it is equally important for us in a world wounded by raging wars and terrorism.
New York. A winter’s day. Willem’s phone rings. His mother is calling to tell him that his brother died and he has to go home. A journey back to the old home. Arriving in Amsterdam. As Willem decides to write a letter to his deceased brother his memories storm him.
Following the success of his previous play, Doom, Attila Bartis has written yet another disturbing and ruthless story for the Vígszínház. The play takes place in a theatre and is full of deep secrets, painful and smouldering lies, as are the private lives of the actors. János, the witer-dierctor is in rehearsal for his new play. In the heat of the intensive work real life and life on stage, private lives and the horrors of the fifties mingle almost unnoticeably. The line between lie and reality appears to be very very thin. Who betrayed who? The past is there to haunt everyone.
Three couples, one weekend cottage, Midsummer Night’s madness, and Woody Allen’s matchless sense of humour. Andrew, the crazy inventor and his unhappy wife invite their friends over for a long weekend. Professor Leopold is preparing to marry the attractive Ariel, who once had an affair with Andrew, who of course denies it all. Maxwell, the womanizer doctor also arrives together with his latest acquisition, the incredibly pretty nurse, Dulcy. At the swish of Woody Allen’s magic wand emotions break loose, promising a truly witty and erotic night at the theatre.
Love, erotic desires, deceit and persistent loyalty are eternal issues of both life and theatre. Midsummer Night is the shortest night of the year, when, according to old beliefs, anything can happen, wishes come true and lovers are united. The setting of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a mysterious forest, where young lovers chase each other – and become totally entangled on the way - until, with the help of a little magic, everyone ends up by the side of their chosen partner.
Three girls, three sisters. Sarah, a famous politician who is being blackmailed, Freya, a teacher who is expecting a child and Jasmine, a rebellious university student, who works as a stripper at night.
The rehearsals of this musical play, based on Ferenc Molnár’s novel, The Paul street boys has already started in Vígszínház.
Armin Petras is coming to the Vígszínház in June 2016 to hold a workshop for the actors of the theatre.