Tradition and innovation in Modern Hungarian Theatre [antikvár]

For more than ten years we have been witnessing a phenomena in Central Europe, historical events that seemed forever elusive in the Ice Age of totalitarianism. When everything began to change around us, ourselves included, it was as unexpected as it was intoxicating. The theater has been affected by these events as well. But the question is: for better or worse? How do we as professionals, as individuals feel about it? Above many stages in theaters, you see the ancient Greek mask, a symbol of the dramatic arts. Perhaps this double face that both smiles and frowns also expresses some of the ambiguity to be found in any answer. What is behind the mask then? How did our traditions change in the context of artistic, cultural and social innovations? How did these innovative developments fall within the framework of our traditions? Can we separate the two? Are they necessarily compatible? In posing these questions, you need a book to explore them: one written by the experts, witnesses and artists who work in/for and with Hungarian theaters. This is the book. And it is a pleasure, an honor and the duty of the Hungarian Center of the International Theater Institute to introduce this volume on the occasion of the Frankfurt Book Fair. By sharing our experience, knowledge and conclusions with the happy few and also the unhappy many, our aim is to help the reader understand how we have witnessed history from both sides of the stage. Budapest, July 12 th, 1999 András Nagy