Plays from Contemporary Hungary: ‘Difficult Women’ and Resistant Dramatic Voices: Prah, Prime Location, Sunday Lunch, The Dead Man, The Bat

A collection of five contemporary plays from 21st-century Hungary, translated into English for the first time, offers a counterpoint to the commercial Boulevard Theatre scene of Budapest. These plays, written by some of Hungary's most prolific and commercially successful dramatic voices, are aimed at micro-budget productions and feature strong leading female protagonists with an overarching theme of the family unit. The translator, Szilvi Naray, champions these unheard voices through her performable and dramatically engaging translations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 08 February 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

A remarkable collection of five contemporary plays from 21st-century Hungary, translated into English for the first time, emerges in this captivating theatrical venture. Crafted by some of Hungary's most prolific and commercially successful dramatic voices, these plays are being brought to life on their native stage by theatres that stand in stark contrast to the values upheld by Viktor Orbán. Offering a vibrant counterpoint to the commercial Boulevard Theatre scene in Budapest, these productions provide a platform for unheard voices to be heard. Translator and theatre-maker Szilvi Naray takes center stage, championing these unheard voices through her performable and dramatically engaging translations. With a focus on micro-budget productions, these plays offer a unique opportunity for students and small theatre companies alike to delve into the witty, politically irreverent world of these plays, finally available in English.

The selected playwrights in this collection have faced direct conflict with the Hungarian government, and their works have been subjected to demonization by the state-controlled press. However, their artistic brilliance shines through, as each play is thematically intertwined by the common use of strong leading female protagonists, with an overarching theme of the family unit. Through the edited introduction, the themes and feminine translation strategy are explored, shedding light on how these plays offer a microcosmic lens for understanding the paradoxical nature of contemporary Hungary. This exploration makes this collection an essential study into the world of contemporary Hungary through the powerful medium of drama.

Weight: 420g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350370722