ABSTRACT
Theatre in Hungary used to be deeply involved in the struggle for national independence and the right to use the native language, in which drama a prominent role was played by the country's leading playhouse, Nemzeti Szinhaz. Though this role has obviously been exchanged for others, Nemzeti is still distinguished in popular belief as a national emblem. Similarly, those in power have not looked upon it as an ideological pageant, rather than a home of art. Petty political wrangling of the like is behind much of what happened in our theatres in the past three seasons. Gabor Szekely, for instance, could be director of Uj Szinhaz only for a few years, despite his reputation as a prominent producer of twenty-five years standing, one-time director of Katona Jozsef Szinhaz and mentor of a host of young directors. Opera productions are predominantly traditionalist in approach, in Magyar Allami Operahazra as well as in the majority of provincial theatres which have opera sections.
