Katona József Theatre / TÁP Theatre
Fisherman’s Friends
Katona József Theatre, Chambre, 2008. November 24, 19:00
Cast:
István Dankó, Sosa Juristovszky, Ági Krasznahorkai, Péter Takátsy, Réka Tenki, Bálint Adorjáni, Gergő Bánki, Csaba Gosztonyi, Anna Pálmai/Ferenc Elek
The performance was devised by: Kriszta Kovács, Panka Veress, Vilmos Vajdai
Music: Gábor Váradi
Video: András Juhász
Director: Vilmos Vajdai
Special thanks to: Rozi Vajda and Eventstudio
foto: Barbara Jackel
Péter Halász (1944-2006) actor, director, writer, and emblematic figure of Hungarian theatrical history began his career as an actor in the legendary Universitas company, later to say goodbye to said company in 1969 with his last direction. The productions managed by the Kassák Ház Studio (which he founded with Koós Anna) were regularly banned, despite not having direct political overtones. That is why in 1972 their contemporary performances (all based on ‘happening’ aesthetics) were held in the married couple’s Dohány Street apartment. The company was expelled from Hungary in 1976; after a bit of wandering about they settle in New York City and continued their work until 1985 under the name: Squat Theatre. After the fall of communism Péter Halázs returned to Hungary. His first production back home was at the Katona József Theatre, the title: The Chinaman. He had many different productions in the Chambre, like Self-Confidence, or the news-theatre series of 33 different plays by the title of Power, Money, Fame, Beauty, Love, which he wrote and directed as well. His last performance was in 2006, with him preparing himself for death: laying in state in the National Art Gallery, listening to and commenting his friends’ parting words.
This night’s unique performance is a selection of Péter Halász’s writings, radio and TV interviews, performance and film fragments all compiled by the audience. Everyone can create their own Péter Halász mosaic, out of various parallel scenes, sounds and pictures, sorting through documents, memories and dreams. The audience can select, stop, restart anything.
“The Vajdai-type of pars pro toto practice, the overbearing of details do no harm to the Halázs-oeuvre. Nor does the Chambre’s feeling of subjectivity, individuality, familiarity: this night even those will get to know Halász, the most original personality of recent Hungarian theatre, who are meeting him for the first time. The actors follow Vajdai’s instructions with exemplary intensity, showing the non-recurrent in the repetition, as if Halász himself was leading them, praising them or chewing them out. A production of strong flavour, making the throat raw, cleansing breath. Unsurprisingly, Fisherman’s friends is a well-liked, internationally sold candy brand, more than one and a half centuries old. Originally super-strong, original extra strong, with the taste of menthol, eucalyptus and lemon.” (Tamás Tarján, Criticai Lapok)
Venue: Katona József Theatre, Chambre
For tickets: [+36 (1) 266 5200]; [+36 (1) 317 4061]; [+36 (1) 318 3725]; szervezes@katonaszinhaz.hu