Vígszínház

Since 1896 the Vígszínház has been standing in the heart of Budapest, as a gathering place for the audience and artists. At the turn of the century, Budapest became a cosmopolitan city in a few years, and its dynamically developing bourgeoisie longed for a theater that suited its own taste. Based on the plans of the architect duo Fellner and Helmer, the impressive Vígszínház was built in just one year, which operated with full houses from the beginning and its performances and artists gained a true cult following.

From the beginning, the Vígszínház performed classics, contemporary authors of literary rank, and its actors were always able to successfully bring elegant French comedies, farces and musical works to life. All these endeavors came together into an organic, unified, European-spirited program.

The first directors and artists renewed the previous rigid acting style, and by combining Western European theatrical influences, the modern 20th-century Hungarian acting was born here.

The theater represented an open-minded, European attitude, refined taste and social sensitivity. Modernity was the key word not only in the style of acting, but also in the design of the program, and the latest masterpieces of world dramatic literature were given an important place in the repertoire.

The careers of Ferenc Molnár, Jenő Heltai, Dezső Szomory and many other Hungarian writers and composers unfolded within the walls of the Vígszínház, while its legendary directors – Mór Ditrói, Dániel Jób, Zoltán Várkonyi and László Marton – nurtured whole generations of artists. The greatest actors in Hungarian theater history played on the stage of Vígszínház, and the most outstanding directors, set and costume designers and co-artists created within its walls.