Mark your calendars for Debrecen Drama Days, a weekend of electrifying theatrical performances, as high school and university troupes from across Hungary converge in Debrecen for an English-language drama festival.
The program of the festival:
24th of May:
4 pm: Official opening
5 pm: Emil and the Detectives (Ady 10, Debrecen)
The troupe “Ady 10D”, consisting of students of Ady Endre High School in Debrecen, specializing in theatre and drama studies, presents an adaptation of Erich Kästner’s Emil and the Detectives.
“After falling asleep on the train to Berlin, Emil discovers that the money entrusted to him by his hard-working mother, which he had safely pinned to the lining of his jacket, has been stolen. Could it have been the shifty fellow in the bowler hat who sat in the same carriage? A gang of boys and Emil’s cousin, Pony Hutchen (who pedals into the adventure on her bike), come to his aid. A thrilling adventure full of surprises ensues as they use their wits to devise a wonderfully simple but practical trick to capture the thief.”
The play focuses on questions, like how a group of children can govern themselves and solve problems together. Themes also include the tension between morality and immorality, group thinking and individuality, and rational and emotional reactions. The play concerns the topic of trust in an unfamiliar social environment.
Est. runtime: 60 mins. Admission is free.
7 pm: Through the raven’s eye (DramazOne Society, Szeged)
Are you fascinated by the paranormal and the occult? Do you believe in ghosts and mysticism? Do you enjoy the stories of Edgar Allan Poe? Then, join the Golden Raven Society for a night that you will remember for a lifetime…
This play is an adaptation of three short novels by Edgar Allan Poe, which are “Ligiea”, “Morella”, and “Tell-Tale Heart”, and contains horror elements.
Estimated runtime: 70 mins.
DramazOne Society is a drama group that was born in December 2021 and started operating early in 2022 within the framework of the Institute of English and American Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Szeged and is now supported by American Corner Szeged.
25th of May
9:00 am: English-language sightseeing walk in Debrecen (for the troupes only)
10:30 am: Workshop with János Regős (for the troupes only)
12 pm: Lunch (for the troupes only)
2:30 pm: Forks Out (boi, Pécs)
“Forks Out” is a murder mystery set in the 1950’s and 1970’s. After the funeral of their grandmother, twin sisters Dana and Joanna realize that they don’t know a lot about their grandfather – as if he had never existed.
The play focuses on women’s role in society, family relationships, domestic abuse, gaslighting, and moral issues. It encourages critical thinking and understanding hidden messages, asking higher-order questions, and collating information. The mystery unfolds against the backdrop of references to the major social and historical events of the era.
Est. runtime: 40 mins. Admission is free.
The troupe consists of 15-year-old students of Babits Mihály Grammar School in Pécs, interested in English, drama, and mystery. In their own words: “A small group of creative people who like to create things with fun and stupidity.”
4 pm: The Jester’s Glory (Drama Cult, Budapest)
At some time in the Medieval Ages, the King of France decides to hold a tournament for his beloved daughter’s hand, and the Court Jester decides that he should be the one who wins the princess.
The play, written by Verita M. Seres, discusses social inequality and its consequences as the main character is looked down upon because of his peasant origin.
Est. runtime: 75 mins. Admission is free.
The members of Drama Cult are students of Móricz Zsigmond High School in the 2nd District of Budapest, the school who work in their free time, usually on weekdays after their lessons. Some of them have been working together for three years now as it is going to be their third performance.
6:30 pm: romeo&juliet.zip (Illyés Drama Group, Budaörs)
Due to a lack of extensive runtime and enough players, Illyés Drama Group will attempt to perform this immortal love story in a compressed version. Their rendition demonstrates that the great classics are worth preserving and that Middle English is not such a nuisance after all.
Est. runtime: 35 mins. Admission is free.
Illyés Drama Group is a small troupe consisting of four players aged 17 who are students at Illyés Gyula High School of Budaörs. Three of them participated earlier in the festival.
7:30 pm: Perfetti Sconosciuti (IEAS Theatre@Drama, Debrecen)
On a warm summer evening, a group of friends is ready to begin the feast. It is a nice but somewhat usual dinner, when suddenly someone makes a proposition: to place their mobile phones on the table and, like a game of Russian roulette, whatever notification arrives (texts, WhatsApp messages, calls) they would share it with the others. This uncommon truth-or-dare game has no point among friends who share everything with each other. When the phones start ringing, who will be the one with the sweatiest palms?
The play tackles the question of coming out and acceptance of homosexuality among friends and the issue of privacy in the era of cell phones and social media.
Est. runtime: 90 mins. Admission is free.
IEAS Theatre@Drama is the theatre group of the Institute of English and American Studies of the University of Debrecen.
26th of May
9 am: Tour of University of Debrecen / Closing and Farewell
The event is co-organized by American Corner Debrecen and the University of Debrecen (Institute of English and American Studies, Arts Center of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities / DESzínház, Bán Imre Honors College of Cultural Studies).
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