A peek into Budapest's vibrant theater culture
Overview of the VĂgszĂnhĂĄz, also known as the Comedy Theatre of Budapest.
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Transcript
NARRATOR: Evening in Budapest - we are whisking you away to a very special place, The VĂgszĂnhĂĄz, the comedy theatre of Budapest. Extremely provocative theatre is staged behind these hallowed walls. You and about a thousand other spectators will witness one of the troupe's almost always sold-out performances. The theatre is where Hungarians bear their inner-souls.
CSĂRE GABOR: "Why are there so many theatres in Hungary? On the one hand, I think it's part of our culture; on the other, I think it is part of the legacy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. What we do here isn't just theatre, it is part of public education. Entire generations, children and adults are introduced to culture through theatre; it's part of our national identity."
NARRATOR: The VĂgszĂnhĂĄz is considered one of the most important theatres in Hungary. They perform plays in several different languages. Shakespeare, for example, is staged in the original English. But take our word for it, even if you take in a performance in Hungarian and perhaps don't understand everything, you'll still be delighted by what you see. Watching the players on stage is certainly a highly entertaining spectacle.
CSĂRE GABOR: "Why are there so many theatres in Hungary? On the one hand, I think it's part of our culture; on the other, I think it is part of the legacy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. What we do here isn't just theatre, it is part of public education. Entire generations, children and adults are introduced to culture through theatre; it's part of our national identity."
NARRATOR: The VĂgszĂnhĂĄz is considered one of the most important theatres in Hungary. They perform plays in several different languages. Shakespeare, for example, is staged in the original English. But take our word for it, even if you take in a performance in Hungarian and perhaps don't understand everything, you'll still be delighted by what you see. Watching the players on stage is certainly a highly entertaining spectacle.
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