The season begins – interview with manager Katalin Czvikker

How do you evaluate the 2020-2021 season that ended recently?

“We had planned a Jubilee Season, as on the 15th of October 2020, we celebrated the 120th anniversary of the theatre’s inauguration. But unfortunately, for well-known reasons, we could not mark the occasion properly. I am pleased, though, that we commemorated the anniversary with Hamlet, a truly valuable and grand performance that will be kept in the repertoire for the season of 2021-2022 as well. Our past year was characterized by a constant state of readiness, but despite the several month-long lockdowns, we could still achieve great results. During the season, the companies of Szigligeti Theatre played 187 performances for over 25 thousand spectators. Regarding audience numbers and ticket revenue, almost 70% of what we had undertaken the management application was achieved. Thanks for that to my coworkers, who worked persistently despite the pandemic and layoffs we endured. We haven’t shut down completely even in the summer, as besides performing at home, we honoured several invitations at home as well as abroad.”

What sort of thoughts do you have towards the upcoming season?

“The most important thing is to keep working according to our best knowledge hereinafter as well, despite the hostile external environment. We are preparing a real audience-pleasing repertoire for the 121st season, and we trust that the audience will be a partner in this. I'm excited that after a long break, we can now launch season tickets again, as the base of Oradea theatrical life consists of our season ticket holders. Now we need them more than ever – those who would like to support our theatre, people for whom it is important that we keep doing our community-forming activities, can best contribute by buying a season ticket. It is the first time in a long while that we raised ticket and season ticket prices, but this also means that it’s worth buying a season ticket, because this way, our performances can be seen at a discount price. It is a great satisfaction that it is the fourth time that we have launched our travelling seasonal ticket, as alongside Salonta, Marghita, and Carei, this year we bring our productions to the Szabó Odzsa Municipal Theatre in Săcueni as well.”

What sort of performances, events are the companies preparing for the new season?

“The first premiere of the new season will be on the 1st of October. Mihály Vörösmarty’s play Csongor és Tünde is directed by Anca Bradu, whose name is pretty well-known among the theatre lovers in Oradea. This performance is special not only because this outstanding work of Hungarian drama literature is staged by a Romanian director, but also because almost the entire Szigligeti Company will perform in it. It is a great satisfaction that the two main roles are played by our new members, the new faces of our company, Anna Kocsis and Dávid Scurtu. At the beginning of October, the Lilliput Company is organizing the fifth FuxFestival, where the cream of the Hungarian professional puppet theatres of Transylvania will be present. For New Year’s Eve, we are once again preparing an operetta, and in February, we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Nagyvárad Dance Ensemble. In the spring, the Ensemble will host the Meeting of the Transylvanian Professional Folk Dance Ensembles, and we hope that we will be able to organize the 10th edition of the HolnapUtán Festival as well.”

 

Recorded by: Árpád Levente Bíró