Statement on Solidarity with "Csíki Játékszín" Theatre

The undersigned, leaders of Hungarian Theatre Union (MASZÍN), leaders of institutions, independent theatre artists, company leaders, and cultural managers, solidary with our collegues from Miercurea Ciuc, it is with great concern that we follow the developments and press articles with reference to Csíki Játékszín Theatre, and especially the phenomenon which gave rise to this situation. Last week, the Miercurea Ciuc Town Hall announced its intention to fire several employees of this theatre and join the Csíki Játékszín Theatre with Figura Studio in Gheorgheni into one institution (http://www.maszol.ro/index.php/kultura/88316-mi-lesz-veled-csikszeredai-kulturalis-elet).

Csíki Játékszín Theatre, founded in 1998, under the leadership of its founder Miklós Parászka, has become an important institution in the world of Transylvanian, Romanian, and Hungarian theatre, one in which many acclaimed artists have worked these past years. It was the host of the 2014 edition of Ifeszt, a theatre festival of national importance, and its theatre festival for children and youth, Lurkó Fesztivál, already at its fifth edition, is an important meeting point for our theatres and puppet theatres.

We consider that cultural institutions such as Csíki Játékszín Theatre – just like Hargita Székely National Ensemble, or Figura Theatre, founded by László Bocsárdi, also thematized in the press – represents a value for the restructuring of which must only be done with the utmost discretion, prepared by elaborate studies, and, last but not least, intense debates involving the founders, managers, artists, and employees concerned, but also the audience of Miercurea Ciuc, professional organizations, and persons of competent authority. A wide consultation is also necessary in order to avoid the risk of damaging the decades of dedicated and valuable work done by these institutions, as well as the indisputable results of their development so far.

As cultural managers, leaders of companies and institutions, responsible theatre professionals, we realize how hard the situation of local authorities sponsoring cultural institutions is in cases when the lawmaker doesn't supply financial sources for some of its measures that demand substantial supplimentary costs – either pay-raises or tax hikes on contributions paid by the employer after the employees –, leaving the finantial burden of these measures exclusively to the local or county authorities.

We understand that similar measures put local governments of small and middle-sized towns into an extremely difficult situation. At the same time, we don't see any alternative to honest dialogue with those concerned, deep studies preceding an intense preparation, in the case of an institutional system that represents some of the greatest values of a community, not even in the case of major crises.

On the other hand, we would like to draw the attention of local and county authorities that sponsor cultural institutions to this unfortunate situation, prompting them to act consciously of their historical responsibility, with thoughtfulness and professionality, if, due to government measures or for the protection of their own budget balance, they are ever forced to decide on the fate of cultural institutions, so that the institutional autonomy, the valuable work and development possibilities of these institutions do not suffer the consequences of their actions.

At the same time, we would like to express our sincere solidarity with all our theatre artist and dancer colleagues from Miercurea Ciuc, wishing them, in this moment of incertitude, the power and dedication needed to continue their work in the service of the local audience, and also the art of theatre and dance.

In the name of the leadership of MASZÍN – Hungarian Theatre Union:  

Balázs Attila, manager, Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre Timişoara                                            

Bessenyei Gedő István, executive manager, Harag György Company Satu Mare  

Czvikker Katalin, secretary, Szigligeti Theatre Oradea                                     

Nagy Pál, vice-manager for external relations, Tomcsa Sándor Theatre, Odorheiu Secuiesc  

Tapasztó Ernő, vice-manager for internal relations Aradi Kamaraszínház Theatre  

Also:

Bocsárdi László manager, „Tamási Áron” Theatre Sfântu Gheorghe

Tompa Gábor director, Hungarian State Theatre Cluj

Albu István manager, „Studio Figura” Theatre Gheorgheni

Novák Eszter artistic manager, „Szigligeti”Company, Oradea

Keresztes Attila artistic manager, National Theatre Târgu Mureș, „Tompa Miklós” Company

Zakariás Zalán artistic manager, „Tomcsa Sándor” Theatre, Odorheiu Secuiesc

Márton Imola artistic manager, M Studio, Sfântu Gheorghe

Stier Péter temporary general manager, North Theatre Satu Mare

Ovidiu Caița artistic manager, North Theatre Satu Mare

Demeter András István  

dr. habil. Ungvári Zrínyi Ildikó univ. professor, author for „Játéktér” magazine

dr. Lázok János univ. professor

dr. Kovács Levente director, professor emeritus

Bartha József scenographer, univ. professor

Bessenyei István actor, president of „Proszcénium” Fundation, honorary member of the „Harag György” company

Nagy Orbán actor, manager of the Center for Conservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture, Satu Mare

Czintos József actor, honorary member of the „Harag György” company

Márk Nagy Ágota director

Mezei Kinga actress, director

Burák Ádám artistic manager, CoIn Theatre Company London

Spiró György writer

Kovács András Ferenc Writer

Tasnádi István writer, director

Lőkös Ildikó dramaturg

Upor László Dramaturg

Forgách András dramaturg

Bérczes László director

Radnóti Zsuzsa dramaturg

Darvay Nagy Adrienne theatre historian, writer

Csirák Csaba theatre historian

Hungarian Critics Guild  

Stuber Andrea theatre critic, Head of Hungarian Critics Guild

Papp Tímea theatre critic

Proics Lilla theatre critic

Lakos Anna theatre critic

Boros Kinga theatre critic, assistant professor, author for „Színház” magazine (Hungary)

Dobák Lívia theatre critic

Varga Anikó Head of „Játéktér” magazine  

Szűcs Katalin Ágnes theatre critic, Head of „Criticai Lapok” magazine (Hungary)

László Beáta Lídia writer, „Játéktér” magazine

Zalán Tibor writer

Müller Péter writer

Bognár Róbert writer, translator

Radnai Annamária dramaturge

Sediánszky Nóra dramaturge, director

Sorin Militaru director

Victor Ioan Frunză director

Adriana Grand scenographer

George Costin actor  

In the name of the Hungarian Folk Dance Association in Romania:

Barabási Attila manager, Mureșul Artistic Ensamble

Deák Gyula Levente manager,  „Háromszék” Artistic Ensamble

Dimény Levente artistic manager, „Nagyvárad” Ensamble

Orendi István artistic manager, „Udvarhely Néptáncműhely” Ensamble  

Union of Hungarian Dancers and Choreographers (Hungary)  

Könczei Árpád composer, choregrapher

Hégli Dusan choregrapher, artistic manager, „Ifju Szivek” Ensamble, Bratislava

Fodor Katalin choregrapher, „Közép-Európa” Dance Theatre, Budapesta

Benő Barna-Zsolt manager, „Bekecs” Ensamble

Kozma Attila artistic manager, Miskolci Balett

Topolánszky Tamás Dancer, laureate of the „Harangozó” award, manager of „GG Tánc Eger”, associate professor at the Hungarian Dance Academy

Szögi Csaba artistic manager, „Bethlen Téri Színház”, Budapesta

Földi Béla manager, „Budapest” Dance Theatre

Kutszegi Csaba writer, theatre critic

Demény Péter writer

Tóth-Páll Miklós actor, president of „Ady Endre” Society, honorary member of the „Harag György” Company

Lendvai Zoltán director

Visky András writer, dramaturg, univ. professor, associate artistic director, Hungarian Theatre of Cluj

Zsigmond Andrea univ. assistant, UBB Cluj, Faculty of Theatre and Television, editor of „Játéktér” magazine

Vlad Massaci director

Boris Lijesevic (Serbia) director

Lucie Málková director (Hungary)

Mihai Donici scenographer

Iuliana Vîlsan scenographer

Amelia Kraigher theatrologist (Slovenia)

Voicu Rădescu founder of Luni Theatre, Green Hours

Máté Gábor „Katona József” Theatre, Budapest

Csoma Judit actress, Budapest

Gyüdi Sándor general manager of Szeged National Theater

Schilling Árpád director

Kövesdy István director

Vadas László director

Szász János director

Barabás Olga director at Ariel Theater, Târgu Mureș 

Dunkler Réka web editor of „Játéktér” magazine

Radu Afrim director

Patkó  Éva, director, univ. assistant