We joined MASZÍN – the Hungarian Theatre Association

At this year’s MAFESZT in Satu Mare, three new members joined MASZÍN: the Tamási Áron Theatre in Sfântu Gheorghe, the Hungarian State Theatre in Cluj-Napoca, and the Figura Studio Theatre in Gheorgheni – a Theatre Association, which brings together Hungarian theatres in Transylvania.

István Bessenyei Gedő, president of the organization and director of the Harag György Company of the Northern Theatre in Satu Mare, said at a press conference held during MASZÍN’s travelling festival in Satu Mare: a dream is coming true with all Hungarian theatres in Transylvania soon becoming members of the association. He recalled that MASZÍN was established in 2016 by the Csiky Gergely State Hungarian Theatre in Timișoara, the Harag György Company of the Northern Theatre in Satu Mare, the Tomcsa Sándor Theatre in Odorheiu Secuiesc, the Szigligeti Theatre in Oradea, and the Arad  Chamber Theatre.

“I am personally very happy about the Sepsiszentgyörgy Theatre joining us. We have always had a very close relationship with the Tamási Áron Theatre, because I believe it is one of the most valuable theatre workshops in Transylvania, and I am sure that it will bring fresh, new momentum to MASZÍN with its distinctive image” said István Bessenyei Gedő.

“Participating in MAFESZT is a new experience for our theatre, because we have just joined MASZÍN, which organizes this travelling festival,” said Gyöngyi Pál Ferenczi, artistic director of the Tamási Áron Theatre. As she explained, MAFESZT aims to provide a cross-section of Hungarian theatre in Transylvania to the audience of the host city, where each theatre presents its most representative performance or performances. “I feel that these meetings are extremely important, because nowadays there are fewer and fewer opportunities for personal contact, and online communication is the opposite of what theatre represents,” said the actress.

István Albu, director of the Tamási Áron Theatre, considers joining MASZÍN important because this organization represents the interests of Hungarian theatres in Transylvania. “The member theatres of the Hungarian Theatre Association discuss their common concerns and also help each other in technical and other areas, whether it be organizational work, marketing, or accounting,” he said. He added that, for example, a PR marketing workshop was organized for representatives of participating theatres during the festival in Satu Mare. He emphasized, however, that in addition to MAFESZT, they also have another jointly organized festival, BUKFESZT, which is held in the fall and offers an opportunity each year to introduce themselves to the Hungarian audience in the capital and to the best of the Romanian theatre profession.