A grandiose series of festivals starts at the National Theatre, which begins with the Jelen/lét Festival, continues with the Madách International Theater Meeting (MITEM), and culminates in the 10th Theater Olympics. Moreover, it does not end in June, if after the summer break the festive season of the National Theater of Miskolc, i.e. the oldest theater in Csonka-Hungary with a history of two hundred years, arrives, then the Comedie Francaise and the International Festival of Language Minority Theatres, i.e. the Synergy festival from Novi Sad, arrive. Magyar Nemzet asked Attila Vidnyánszky, the general director of the National Theater and the president of the Hungarian Theater Society, about the latter and, of course, about the entire series of programs.
MN : Synergy is a theater festival of European minority peoples, which the Újvidéki Theater has organized five times so far. I have been flirting with the idea of going beyond our borders for a long time - revealed Attila Vidnyánszky, who shared this idea with Valerij Fokin, the director of the Alexandrinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, according to which the European national theaters should unite, and these ensembles should embrace the cause of minorities in their own countries.
- Two years ago, the foundation of the organization began in Russia, with fifty member theaters. Since the war broke out last year, I feel that we have to take over this mission, said the general director of the National Theater.
MN: Reading Mitem's program, I noticed that they are also hosting two Ukrainian performances - namely Bertolt Brecht's Stop Arturo Ui! and Albert Camus's drama Caligula, the choice of plays by the troupes is probably not accidental - but I searched for a Russian ensemble production in vain.
– In addition, the final performance of the Olympics, Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, will be staged by the young Ukrainian director Ivan Urivszkij on the Margaret Island outdoor stage, added Attila Vidnyánszky. – There is an awareness of this on my part, because I try to maintain bridges to both Russia and Ukraine at all costs. We agreed with Valery Fokin, a member of the organizing committee: we will not invite a Russian performance, because the organization of the Olympics is more important than any of the fifty-eight participating countries boycotting the event with their absence. .MN: Moreover, a theater event of a similar magnitude has never taken place in our country. Four hundred companies, seven hundred and fifty performances, more than seven thousand five hundred participants.
In addition, a wonderful stadium was built in our neighborhood, in which one of the biggest sporting events in the world, the World Athletics Championships, will take place in August. We should be proud that, despite all the difficulties, we are able to implement such events - emphasized the theater director.ű
Source: Origo
Just like a sports event, an international cultural event also improves our reputation in the world - and hopefully Imré Madách's as well, because let's not forget that we are not only celebrating Petőfi's bicentenary, since the Stregova hermit was also born two hundred years ago.
"The Tragedy of Man" is one of the most wonderful texts ever written, so it is important that they learn the name of Imre Madách - emphasized Attila Vidnyánszky.
They are trying to help this with one of the most unique programs of the Olympics. Together with the University of Theater and Film Arts, the Tragédia is being staged, and each stage is played by students from universities in different countries. Creation is by Poles, Egyptian color by Egyptians, Athenian Greeks, Roman Italians, Byzantine Turks, Eskimo color by Canadians, space by Hungarians, but there will be Serbian, Romanian, and Georgian students, from a total of twelve points in the world. Unfortunately, the Russian acting students will be missed here as well.
In addition, the accompanying programs include the large-scale Madách exhibition of the National Theater History Museum and Institute.
MN: Browsing the website of the Theater Olympics, I was surprised and pleased to notice that all the tickets for many performances were sold out. As an explanation, Attila Vidnyánszky said: tickets were bought from more than twenty countries.
"Mitem is primarily aimed at the domestic audience," continued the director. - The almost decade-long history of the meeting made the spectators believe that it is indeed possible to enjoy theater performances in a foreign language with Hungarian subtitles. Our goal is to familiarize the audience and professionals with the trends and current state of acting in the world.
Unlike before, puppet theater, dance - contemporary, folk dance, ballet -, opera, children's and youth theater, and circus arts will all be presented on the Olympic program, which we will implement in collaboration with more than seventy partner institutions throughout the country.
- said Attila Vidnyánszky, adding: international amateur theater festival in Debrecen, international student theater festival in Pécs, international village and small town community theater festival in Vasvár will take place within the framework of the theater Olympics.
Source and image: Hungarian Nation
The official website of the Theater Olympics is here.
