Csaba Kutszegi: ‘The profession can only benefit from this series of events’
The diverse programme of the 10th Theatre Olympics included dance, a special genre of theatre. Among more than 40 performances were classical ballet, contemporary dance, movement art, and folk dance. We asked critic Csaba Kutszegi for his views on the performances.
Theodoros Terzopoulos: ‘The 10th Theatre Olympics was an excellent event in every respect’
The founder of the Theatre Olympics, Teodoros Terzopulos, is currently in Budapest rehearsing with the company of the National Theatre of Hungary for the production of Mother Courage and Her Children. We talked about the 10th Theatre Olympics hosted by Hungary, his relationship with tradition and audiences, and also the upcoming play.
Connections, Opportunity, Community – This was the 10th Theatre Olympics
Hungary’s stages hosted the world’s top theatre artists during the 10th Theatre Olympics from April 2023. The genre-rich programme attracted 200 000 viewers and put the country on the world theatre map.
Reflecting on the world – interview with Sebestyén László Szabó
Interview with the Junior Prima Prize-winning young actor about performances entitled Woyczek and Bánk bán, leading roles, and the importance of international theatre festivals.
Leaning Church: The Voices of a Vanished City
The program of the 10th-anniversary edition of the Madách International Theatre Meeting (MITEM) included an entire festival – Synergy World Theatre Festival – in its “theatre embrace”.
The Overcoat: A Balaganza of Absurdity and Travesty
The 10th MITEM Theatre Festival continues to showcase the theatre achievements of Hungarian national theatre and productions from other countries.
Impressions of the 30-year-old Transcarpathian Regional Hungarian Drama Theatre
The Transcarpathian Regional Hungarian Drama Theatre, founded in 1993, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, which will also be commemorated as part of the 10th MITEM. Speaking of which, we asked the theater’s three artists, the founder Zsolt Trill, as well as Magdolna Vass and József Rácz.
‘The Book of Ruth’: Kaddish For Peaceful Life
The 10th edition of the Madách International Theatre Meeting in Budapest coincided with the Jewish holiday Sukkot (Festival of Booths).
‘Gulliver’s Travels’: A lesson in satire for children
The program of the 10th edition of the Madách International Theatre Meeting (MITEM), which is an echo of the International Theatre Olympiad, seems to be diverse and varied, but in fact, it is calibrated and stylistically very precise.
Nice to MITEM you – The 10th edition of the Madách Theatre Meeting opens
2023 is a milestone in the history of the Hungarian Theatre. In the spring of 2023, the Theatre Olympics took place here, which was the largest in the history of this project. The special edition of Madách International Theatre Meeting is also perceived as a continuation of the Theatre Olympics.
George Zamfir: ‘We were united in diversity’
One of the highlights of the 10th Theatre Olympics was the Madách Project 2023, a program based on the idea of Attila Vidnyánszky, organised by the University of Theatre and Film Arts in Budapest. Student director George Zamfir wrote to színház.org about his experience of creating the performance.
Bianca Temneanu: ’I realized that theatre still exists’
We continue our series of reports on the Madách Project. The following is the testimony of Bianca Temneanu, who is doing her Masters in stage directing at the I. L. Caragiale University of Theatre and Film Arts, who, together with two colleagues, staged three scenes of The Tragedy of Man and participated in the artistic process in Hungary.
“From great ideas come great performances” – Romanian director Anca Bradu on the Madách Project
Anca Bradu, Director and Professor of the Department of Theatre Directing at the UNATC I. L. Caragiale University of Theatre and Film Arts, wrote about the international programme of events involving young theatre professionals and actors.
Watch the video of celebratory closing event of the 10th Theatre Olympics
This year’s largest theatre festival in Europe closed at the end of June with a festive event at the Margaret Island Open-Air Stage. Here is our video report of the stage performances and the following Midsummer Night’s Eve event!
Uniting the world through theatre: Madách Project 2023 – video
200 young artists arrived in Budapest more than 10 days ago to bring Imre Madách’s The Tragedy of Man to life in a unique performance on 23 June, directed by Attila Vidnyánszky. We visited the participants of the 11-language performance at the Eiffel Workshop House.
4 continents, 11 countries, 200 students: this is the Madách Project 2023 – video
The Madách Project 2023 is one of the most important international academic cultural events of the year, with a major joint production of Imre Madách’s best-known work, The Tragedy of Man, performed by theatre students from eleven countries and four continents.
Emiliia Dementsova: ‘Theatre today has a humanitarian function.’
Emiliia Dementsova is critic who is currently living in Israel, shared her experiences of her time in Hungary for the Theatre Olympics, as well as her essential thoughts on the role of theatre today.
Indian Chorus Repertory Theatre cancels
According to the National Theatre of Hungary, the Chorus Repertory Theatre of India will not be able to hold its guest performances rescheduled from the original date to 6-7 June, and has therefore been cancelled from the MITEM programme.
‘A fruitful ground for new theatre projects’ – interview with Tarlan Rasulov
Tarlan Rasulov is an Azerbaijan theatre director and founder of the dOM independent theatre company. We have talked about his visions of the future theater, his favourite performances, and the next festival with him.
Savas Patsalidis: ‘Cultural events like this are necessary more than ever’
Savas Patsalidis is a Greek professor who is the author of fourteen books on theatre criticism and theatre theory, and is currently editor-in-chief of Critical Stage. We talked about the 10th Theatre Olympics.
Thoughts of Liu Libin on the trip to Budapest for the 10th Theatre Olympics
Great anticipation precedes the Chinese performance of Faust at the 9th Madách International Theater Meeting (MITEM) taking place within the framework of the 10th Theater Olympics.
Water in the spotlight – Papaioannou’s INK in Hungary
In INK, his new production Papaioannou puts water in the spotlight. The show will be presented in Budapest in 2023.
The Journey of the Mask: a road movie
Following the handover, the mask “set off” on a European tour to visit a few of the artists participating in the Theatre Olympics.
Alessandro Serra: ‘Theatre is the place where you can save your soul’
Alessandro Serra and his company are coming to Budapest to perform Shakespeare’s The Tempest. We spoke with the Italian director about his Hungarian experiences, the play, and the role of the theatre.
“We create an ideal little world” – The Mask visits Slava Polunin in Trieste
He has a penchant for the absurd, works with people with a tendency to be happy, and has many more ideas he would like to bring to life. The Mask and the crew met the father of 30-year-old SNOWSHOW, Slava Polunin, and his company at the Teatro Rossetti in Trieste during their Italian tour.
Oscar-winning actress and Ukrainian performances in the final programme of the 10th Theatre Olympics
With over 400 companies from more than 50 countries, the 10th Theatre Olympics kicks off on 1 April with French actress Juliette Binoche as the special guest.
Avtandil Varsimashvili: ‘The magic of the theater is the acting’
Award-winning Georgian director Avtandil Varszimashvili recently presented a Brecht play at the National Theater of Hungary, and on April 26-27 he will come to the 10th Theater Olympics with two Shakespeares. We talked about making theater and what a director’s greatest virtue is.
World Puppetry Day – Message from Nina Malíková
21 March is not only the beginning of meteorological spring, but also World Puppetry Day. Below is the international message of the World Day, written by Czech puppet theatre expert Nina Malíková.
Road movie is filmed under the auspices of the Theatre Olympics
On the occasion of World Theatre Day a traditional theatrical mask donated by Theodoros Terzopoulos to the 10th Theatre Olympics will “go on a journey” to visit some of our guest artists.
“I did not expect to like it, let alone love it” — Slava Polunin to visit Hungary again
Between 16-18 June, as part of the Theatre Olympics, there will be five performances of SnowShow by the legendary company of French-based international cultural icon Slava Polunin.
Juliette Binoche: ‘We are granted the privilege of peeking into the secret of secrets”
These are some of the questions Juliette Binoche addresses in the interview by Enikő Sepsi on her reading performance at MITEM The Matter of Light, based on the book Talking with Angels.
Faust, Young Barbarians, Kafka and others — New performances at MITEM
Organisers of the MITEM announced newest additions to the line-up of performances. Tickets already available.
Slava Polunin: ‘I have always been attracted to the absurd and the grotesque’
From 16-18 June, the legendary company of Slava Polunin will be presenting SnowShow five times as part of the Theatre Olympics. We spoke to the artist about the play, which has been a huge success for three decades.
Madách 200 – The 10th Theater Olympics offers a variety of programs
Theater Olympics 2023 also commemorates the work of the famous Hungarian writer, Imre Madách, who was born 200 years ago, on January 20, 1823.
The Spanish Hamlet in Budapest: Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod – Creators of Life is a Dream
What makes this classic of Baroque Spanish drama topical? What is the difference between film and theatre? What makes the Theatre Olympics special? These are some of the questions we asked of the British creators of Life is a Dream, a production coming to MITEM from Madrid.
Award-winning dance performances at the 10th Theater Olympics
This time we recommend productions presented as part of the Theater Olympics by Transylvanian, Slovenian, Greek, and French companies.
The ABSTRACT International Puppet Festival is being organized for the first time
As part of the 10th Theater Olympics, the ABSTRACT International Contemporary Puppet Festival will be held in Budapest for the first time between May 6-19, 2023.
Unique installation brings the legendary settings of Madách’s The Tragedy of Man to life
On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Imre Madách, a special exhibition opens in the National Theater of Hungary as an accompanying program of the 10th Theater Olympics.
Exchange platform – Theodoros Terzopoulos about the Theatre Olympics in Hungary
Theodoros Terzopoulos, one of the founders of the Theatre Olympics, sent the following message to the Hungarian organisers of the event of the world theatre.
10th Theatre Olympics – 550 performances in 70 venues all over Hungary
200 companies from 35 countries will come to Hungary between 1st April and 1st July 2023 for the 10th International Theatre Olympics.
What is in the ark?
Attila Vidnyánszky – “We have chosen the ark as the symbol of the festive 10th Theatre Olympics and within it, the 9th MITEM.”
Zoltán Rátóti: “The Madách project can launch an international discourse”
With the Madách Project, the 2023 Hungarian Theatre Olympics will pay tribute to the memory of Imre Madách, the immortal Hungarian playwright born 200 years ago this year.
Gábor Tompa continues as president of the The Union of European Theatres
The UTE members decided unanimously that Gábor Tompa, current UTE President will reprise his mandate for another 2 years.
Valery Fokin: ‘The theater can be a tool for reunification’
Russian director Valery Fokin, a member of the International Committee of the Theater Olympics and a regular participant of the MITEM Festivals, expressed his thoughts in an exclusive video about the following Theater Olympics hosted by Hungary in 2023.
Theatre attracted by tradition – Theodoros Terzopoulos on the Olympic ideal
Theodoros Terzopoulos on the Olympic ideal, the capitalist interpretation of Nora and the importance of openness.
Founder of Theater Olympics brings Ibsen to Hungary
Nora, the adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s A doll’s house by Theodoros Terzopoulos will be presented in Budapest in April 2023.
Theodoros Terzopoulos: The Return Of Dionysus – The Body
President of the Theater Olympic Committee, Theodórosz Terzopulosz founded the Attis Theater in 1985. During the creation of the first production, a specific working method was developed.
Castellucci’s BROS comes to Budapest
Italian director Romeo Castellucci’s BROS will be presented to Hungarian audiences in May 2023.
Tadashi Suzuki: “There Is Still Hope for Truly Global Communication”
In this interview, Suzuki speaks about the significance of Toga Village, the significance of artists working together on theater festivals.
Zoltán Balázs to direct in Poland
On 6 October, the Stefan Jaracz Theatre in Olsztyn will present Part II of Adam Mickiewicz’s poetic drama Forefather’s Eve, directed by Zoltán Balázs.
Debrecen’s newest theatre, the Csokonai Forum, to open its doors
The idea of a new theatre was first proposed in a plan outlined by the city in 2005. The opening ceremony took place in the Latinovits Zoltán Hall, which seats 350 people.
