THEATRE IN THE NORTHERN LIGHT
Estonian and Finnish Drama on the Hungarian Stage
National Széchényi Library, October 13, 2005 – February
19, 2006
The aim of the theatre history exhibition organised by the
National Széchényi Library is to present the Hungarian reception of Estonian
and Finnish theatre in the most enjoyable manner. Pictures, colours and atmospheres
are revived in order to recall 125 years of contacts.
From the contacts of national theatres of the three Finno-Ugric states, the
present exhibition displays those Estonian and Finnish productions that Hungarian
audience have had a chance to see. The story of our relations goes back to times
before 1880 and has been almost uninterrupted ever since for institutions, artists
and the general public. Naturally, the space available does not allow a full
introduction of all the details of the process. Therefore the display concentrates
on the most notable, most interesting and most spectacular ’encounters’
and productions.
Our exhibition flashes up many different genres from Estonian and Finnish drama
performances to operas, musical plays, dance productions, puppet shows and children’s
theatres. Hungarian professional companies, amateur groups, youth drama clubs
and Estonian and Finnish guest productions, as well as the visiting artists,
Estonian and Finnish directors, choreographers, and designers are introduced
through carefully selected documents.
The material exhibited in the first room gives a chronology of our relations
between 1880 and 1949 from the first guests to the successes at the Hungarian
National Theatre and the Opera. In the largest room the second block introduces
the Hungarian stage career of the Kalevala looking at various genres
and periods between 1940–2001. This presentation is followed by the third
stage that combines the chronological and thematic approaches and introduces
a wide range of productions and performers, Estonian and Finnish plays staged
in Hungary and visiting guest performances from 1959 up to our days.
Translated by Eszter Timár
The exhibition has been organised in the co-operation of the National Széchényi Library, the Estonian National Library (Eesti Rahvusraamatukogu, Tallinn) and the Finnish National Library (Helsingin yliopiston kirjasto – Suomen kansalliskirjasto, Helsinki).
Curator of the exhibition: Ildikó Sirató
Curator's assistant: Magdolna Both
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Photo by Geza Neninger
