Theatre and Arts Festival at Szigligeti Theatre – interview with general director Katalin Czvikker

Between 6—9 April, Szigligeti Theatre organizes the fifth edition of HolnapUtán Festival.In this year's schedule, we have more theatre events than ever before. About the event series we have talked to the theatre's general director Katalin Czvikker.

 

“Theatre shows have played an important part in earlier editions of the festival as well” – she said. “As a performing arts institution, it is our inherent duty to provide our audience with a larger perspective, beyond our own performances. At the same time, with the help of theatre professionals and the audience, we must help our our institution find its place on the map of the theatrical world. So, the most important change is not the fact that we have many theatre events, but that all our events draw attention to an ever-living relationship between different forms of art – indeed, between art and real life”.

“The most important thing we had in mind when making the schedule was – in harmony with Szigligeti Theatre's mission – to give a chance to young debutants” – Katalin Czvikker continued. “For this purpose, besides well-known professionals, we will see shows directed by young directors who work on a supreme artistic level. We are happy to see that the greatest theatre companies from Transylvania honoured our invitation – on the one hand, because promoting young talents must be our common cause, and on the other hand, because at a festival like this one, the relationships between institutions can gather new momentum” – the director declared.

The festival will be opened by two prestigious companies. On the 6th of April, at 5 pm, Hungarian State Theatre Cluj will present its play Homemade on the stage of Arcadia Theatre. The show talks about parent—child relationships in an uncommon way. The play was created in the course of nine months, and has deeply personal stories at its core. At 8 pm, Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre Timişoara will take the stage of the theatre, with their play titled Naive, Completely Frivolous Details in the Life and Death of the Audience, directed by multiple award-winning director Radu Afrim.

On 7 April, theatre academies will have the main role. At 4 pm, on the stage of Arcadia Theatre, MA students of Târgu Mureş University of Arts will present their improvisative show Kiadjamagát, directed by Péter Forgách. At 7 pm, 3rd year musical acting students from the Budapest Theatre and Film Academy will present a playful, entertaining show on the big stage of the theatre, made up of songs by George Gershwin and Cole Porter, directed by Eszter Novák.

On 8 April, Szigligeti Company will put on its youth play Casting, and then, next day, award-winning The Bourgeoise Gentleman by Tamási Áron Theatre Sfântu Gheorghe will close this year's festival.

“Besides the theatre shows, we have prepared a very special event titled HolnapUtán Projekt” – the director continued. “The workshop is addressed to Hungarian theatre academies from all over the Carpathian Basin. 12 acting students will make an impromptu play based on texts written by Oradea authors. The play will be performed on 9 April, 5 pm, in Szigligeti Studio. On the 8th, there will be an exhibition opening with graphic artist László Németh's theatre posters, and on the 6th, 7th and 9th, there will be parties with live music. All these events will be with free entrance” – Katalin Czvikker concluded.

For all three big stage shows of the festival, 40 RON festival tickets will be on sale. Tickets are available at the theatre's booking office, or online, at www.biletmaster.ro.