Based on Lewis CARROLL’S Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass fantasy novels

ALICE

co-production of the Tamási Áron Theatre and sZempöl Offchestra

11th November 2018, Novi Sad Theatre , Large scene, 19h (Duration 1,45)

About the play

Alice is the iconic story of crossing boundaries. One can approach it as a story of a teenage traumatic body discovery, as a description of the first psychedelic adventure, or as a panicky discovery of invisible dimensions, but in any case it is a story in which one is initiated into an unknown world. The inspiration for the play was found in the issues that Lewis Carroll pointed out in his novels.

In the last two decades, the aesthetics of the troupe from the Tamási Áron Theatre has been shaped by Bocsárdi László’s creative and leading activity, turning them into a hazardous workshop fighting for novelty that despite of being influenced by both the Romanian and Hungarian theatrical tradition, remains unique in its style. Director and theatre director Bocsárdi László has a long-term perspective when it comes to organizing his theatre, building up his troupe and shaping his audience. The theatre for him is the most important means of mapping out human existence and our inner selves. His artistic radicalism comes from the desire of exploring and recognizing the ever deeper layers of truth. His experimental theatre and concert show entitled Alice builds on the blurring boundaries between genres; while witnessing an inner journey the title character goes through, we can see the dreamlike panics of teenagers about self-awareness, the search for roles, and their understanding of the world.

About the theatre

The theatre of Sfantu Gheorghe, as permanent professional artistic institution was established in 1948, under the name of Hungarian State Theatre. From 1987 it is named Theatre of Sfantu Gheorghe, from 1992 Tamási Áron Hungarian State Theatre, and from 1998 Tamási Áron Theatre of Sfantu Gheorghe. The many names this institution received indicate a whole struggling past, with its hidden and open efforts of cultural policy, self determination, mission and artistic aim.

Not less than half a century had to pass before the institution became a permanent and professional theatre with its own headquarter and was able to operate not as a victim of the harsh historical and geographical setting, but one with rich emotional experiences. Yet, to achieve this stage, the theatre needed a radical change of approach that was initiated in 1995 with the arrival of László Bocsárdi, director and artistic coordinator.

With its new artistic program, the Tamási Áron Theatre is now one of the most important theatre workshops in Transylvania. Its performances are based on the clashes between the powerful visuality of the Romanian theatre and the more rational, realistic Hungarian theatre, but also keen on the German expressionist theatre, resulting in a synthesis that defines the language of this institution, thus becoming an integral part of the contemporary European context.

The company is consistent in its artistic work and has already a vivid relationship with its audience, becoming a scene for emotional and intellectual contact, a meeting point where artists and audience can freely evolve.

With this conception, on the 60th anniversary of the theatre’s establishment in 2009 the first edition of the International Theatre Festival REFLEX was organized with the aim to present in Sfantu Gheorghe productions that are created in a vivid and poetic manner and are contemporary theatre phenomenon.

The Tamási Áron Theater is one of the most important institutions in the regions of Covasna and Transylvania, and is an integral part of the universal Hungarian and Romanian theater.
Based on a study of cultural life in Romania, Sfântu Gheorghe is standing in an honorable third place, immediately after Cluj-Napoca, thus taking advantage over other major cities such as Sibiu, Timișoara, Târgu Mureș, Iași, Oradea and Brașov.
The theater is an important moving force that plays a crucial role in putting St. George so high on this list. . The Tamási Áron Theater from St George – right after the Hungarian National State Theater in Cluj – is currently the most important Romanian theater that operates in the Hungarian language.

Our results and the International Theater Festival REFLEX have greatly contributed to St. George winning the title of the capital of culture in the region.
For the success of the theater, we can thank the fact that in 1995 there was a significant change in the theater’s life: one part of the Figures Studio Theater joined the ensemble from Sfântu Gheorghe, thus setting the experimental, contemporary direction of the theater.

Regardless of the fact that the Tamási Áron Theater often participates in international theatrical events, where it won many awards recently it hasn’t been a guest in Novi Sad.

The Tamási Áron Theater has joined this theatrical dialogue in 2018, which at the same time marks the beginning of cooperation between the two theaters.

Chief manager, László Bocsárdi