The success of the Theater Olympiad, recent award winners, the twenty-something elite of the theater world, the excellent background work, theater students and the numerous tasks facing the company were also discussed at the National Theater's 2023/2024 season opening company meeting.

The National Theater began its eleventh season under the direction of Attila Vidnyánszky. In the new season, the first show will be on September 3rd at Bánk bán, and at the end of the month the 10th Madách International Theater Meeting, MITEM, will start.

– I can say without any bias or modesty that we have had successful years and the work done makes us justly proud 

the CEO began his speech.

During this time, a unique, complex, large institution was created. The theater serves the audience in Budapest and makes many gestures towards the viewers in the countryside as well. In addition to going to play abroad, they took in the company from Beregszasz, as well as helping the DAH Theater in Kyiv when they were in need.

Attila Vidnyánszky, talking about the Theater Olympiad, which is slowly coming to an end, talked about the fact that despite the fact that they started the organization against strong headwinds, in the end they were able to involve the entire Hungarian theater profession. The organization of the event, the conditions, the work of the background workers and the reception of the guests, elicited appreciation from everyone. As part of the Olympics, the world's best theaters and most renowned directors visited Hungary. During the series of programs from April to June, 400 troupes from 58 countries played 750 performances at more than 100 locations across the country, and 35 troupes from all over the country came to the 9th MITEM, which took place within this.

 - No matter how successful the Theater Olympics was, no matter how much they know about us in the world, we are not yet there to be included in the twenty elite of the theater world, among those without whom large international festivals cannot be organized - added the CEO. - Heading into the eleventh season, we must radiate pride and strength so that they see that we are capable of anything, that we can achieve anything, which is why the world's most talented artists are happy to work with our company

- stated the manager of the theater.

Attila Vidnyánszky also recalled what programs and events took place in the summer between the two seasons. At the beginning of August, Euripides' Bacchanalian play, which was directed by the world-famous Theodorosz Terzopoulos last season at the National Theater, was guest-starred in special venues in Cyprus with great success. The performance will also be shown in the program this season.

The collaboration between the National Theater and the Gyula Castle Theater continued for years: after the works of Sándor Weöres, János Székely, Áron Tamási and Magda Szabó, the National Theater in Gyula, together with the Gyula Castle Theatre, prepared to present two one-act plays by Ferenc Molnár. The presentation of One, Two, Three and The Violet was canceled due to the time of the judgment, the audience could only see the main rehearsal. Zoltán Rátóti's direction can be seen on the Nemzeti program from the end of September.

The Bakkhánsnők and Ferenc Molnár's two one-act plays are particularly important for the theater because university students play in both of them - emphasized Attila Vidnyánszky. In the performance entitled Bakkhánsnők, the students of the University of Kaposvár, and in the Molnár play, the students of each department of the University of Theater and Film, participate and carry out their professional internships. With this, Nemzeti also sets an example of how to hold the hands of the members of the next generation and help them to the stage.

The company welcomed two new honored artists of the theater. On the occasion of the national holiday, Péter Blaskó was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit, and Nelli Szűcs won Szarvas the award for the best female performance for her portrayal of Sári Fedák.

- Thank you for being here, for deciding to stay with us, and let's continue to play together the wonderful game called theater - Attila Vidnyánszky concluded his speech.

Source: nemzetiszinhaz.hu

Photo: Zsolt Eöri Szabó / nemzetiszinhaz.hu