The Hungarian State Theater in Cluj-Napoca rejects the information appearing in the public space according to which the show “The King Dies”, directed by Tompa Gábor, it would have been removed from the program of the National Theater in Budapest for political or artistic reasons.
The premiere of the production was scheduled for December 14, but the criticism portal “Reviewer” announced that the show had been cancelled, although rehearsals were underway and the set had been completed.
Later, in the comments and in some publications, it was speculated that the decision would have been a political one or that the staging would have been too similar to an older direction signed by Silviu Purcărete. Also, telex.hu wrote that the director of the National Theater in Budapest would have given up on the premiere to avoid a possible scandal.
Following this information, the National Theater in Budapest and the Hungarian State Theater in Cluj sent a joint statement denying all these speculations, ActualdeCluj reports. The two institutions state that the interruption of rehearsals and the cancellation of the premiere were determined solely by the health of the director Tompa Gábor, who suffered from a long-term medical condition.
“We consider it unacceptable that, in relation to a show that is in the process of rehearsals, interrupted due to a long-term medical condition of the director – a show that did not reach the premiere – statements, evaluations and definitive conclusions were formulated in the public space. The formulation of artistic judgments or the suggestion of professional conclusions in the absence of a premiere is inadmissible both from a professional and ethical point of view”. it is shown in the press release.
The representatives of the theaters emphasize that the cancellation of the production did not generate additional costs for the budget of the institution in Budapest, and the director fully returned the advanced fee.
At the same time, the press release reaffirms the artistic autonomy of the Hungarian State Theater in Cluj, which intends to resume rehearsals and complete the show “The King Dies” after the full recovery of the director. Depending on the next season’s schedule, the National Theater in Budapest has expressed its willingness to later invite the production made in Cluj.
In the press release, the information according to which the director Silviu Purcărete criticized the staging of Tompa Gábor is also categorically rejected. Purcărete sent a statement stating that he has never commented on this show and that the statements appearing online are false.
“It is stated in the posts and in the Hungarian media that I would have expressed my disapproval and dissatisfaction in relation to this production. These statements are false. I do not have and have not until now had knowledge of the circumstances or details related to this situation and therefore I could not express my point of view. Gábor Tompa is a director I respect and who is my friend”. he emphasized.
The representatives of the two theaters also show that the strict structure of the season and the predetermined calendar did not allow the rescheduling of the production without major organizational and professional risks, and they deny any hypothesis related to possible censorship or political intervention.
“With this statement, the National Theater in Budapest and the Hungarian State Theater in Cluj consider this case closed. The two institutions will no longer respond to public requests or interventions that do not seek to clarify the facts, but unjustifiably induce a state of tension. Both theaters reaffirm their commitment to artistic freedom, institutional autonomy and professional dialogue and will continue their activity in this spirit, at the service of the public and the Hungarian-language theatrical culture”. it is also shown in the communiqué.
