THEATRE SHOWS FOR ENGLISH-SPEAKERS

Posted by Eszter Hermann · Nov 10, 2014

Unfortunately, there are still only a few theatre plays in English or with English subtitles in Hungary. But some of the theatres of Budapest, trying to satisfy the needs of tourists and foreigners, offer a few shows for English-speakers in the rest of the year. We’ve collected three plays for November-December that are worth visiting.

Katona József Theatre is one of the major art theatres that addresses the widest audience possible. It stages classic Hungarian and international drama, as well as a selection of contemporary plays. Luckily, they offer an extensive programme with English subtitles and a special music-based variety.

The amazing show „Musik, Musikk, Musique” is part of their programme. It is a variety concert for not only English- or Hungarian-speakers, but for everyone, for which no subtitles are needed. Some of the famous Hungarian actors such as Adél Jordán, Eszter Ónodi or Ervin Nagy now show their music and dancing skills, too; in 1,5 hours they sing 25 songs in French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, Polish, Swedish and Hungarian.

photo:katonajozsefszinhaz.hu

Another play at Katona József Theatre you can still buy tickets for is the play „Our class”, a Polish drama with English subtitles. It shows the faith of a group of classmates based on the memories, stories told by the 10 Polish and Jewish students. The playwright, Tadeusz Słobodzianek confronts his country's involvement in the horrors of the last century and follows the one-time classmates - through weddings, births, deaths, emigrations and reconciliations - into the repercussions of war.

photo:katonajozsefszinhaz.hu

Furthermore, National Theatre offers an outstanding performance for the rest of the year, too. National Theatre is the main theatre of Budapest, opened originally in 1837 and since then has offered the most valuable pieces of Hungarian and international drama.

In November-December they have an English-language show on the menu: „The Complete Works of William Shakespeare”, a hilarious comedy in two acts. Three actors make an attempt to perform all of Shakespeare’s 37 dramas in less than 2 hours. The three men play both male and female roles, both young and old characters. Don’t miss this show if you want to see Othello in the genre of gangster rap, the historical dramas in the context of an American football match or Hamlet in 20 seconds.