KATALOG (ke stažení) - Prague Quadrennial

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The structure, the theatrical set-up widened, newly founded theatres at
Zalaegerszeg and Nyiregyháza became artistic workshops in their own
right. The József Katona Theatre, wedged in the structure of the capital
city, turned into a highly distinguished ensemble, with a specific and
important scenographical outlook. New theatrical forms were born or
perfected, e. g. scenes without a company of their own — as the Géza
Gárdonyi Theatre founded in 1984 in the town Eger — or small theatres
run on an independent cooperative basis; and the forerunner of the
former type, the Playhouse in Budapest, took its pláce among the most
interesting houses of the country.
Theatrical activity became more open, its economical and legal conditions
more unformal; at the samé time, owing to certain economical
difficulties, increasing value was attached to economical efficiency
which, of course, affected scenography, too.
While several economical and technical conditions deteriorated, still, as
a result of the reconstruction of some theatre buildings and with the
generous backing of the statě, the architectural and technical basis of
theatre activity and thus of scenography too could register important
progress. Altough adoption of the most advanced materials and manufacturing
processes in scenography and in the turning out of sets and
costumes is sometimes slow, there are however some promising experiments
(laser theatre, performance theatre etc).
To sum it all up we may say that in the course of recent years we could
witness a further progress of the former modern and strongly expressive
tendencies in scenography which brought forth many results of outstanding
value.
Fortunately one could also witness membres of the new generations
soaring into excellence, the majority being fresh graduates of the Scenographical
Department at the Academy of Fine Arts who operáte mostly
in the regions, enriching workshops or contributing to the founding of
new ones.
Today's Hungarian scenography, equally active in the field of drama,
musical and dance theatre, is in a period of permanent change and
advance, boasting of a number of new achievements but also confronted
with many problems and struggles.
József Bogel