On January 21 at 6:00 p.m., historian, museologist, and teacher Dr. Lajos Szarka takes the stage at the Balaton Theatre’s Simándy Hall with The Forgotten World Beauty: Böske Simon, Born in Keszthely. The talk is free and runs one hour. Szarka has published 20 books and more than a hundred articles, many focused on Jewish history in HĂ©vĂz (HĂ©vĂz), Keszthely (Keszthely), and Zala County, and on biographies of Jewish figures of national significance. Alongside his teaching career, he spent five years as a historian-museologist at the Holocaust Memorial Center in Budapest. He is a founding member of the cultural journal HĂ©vĂz, and in December 2014 he established the Immanuel Hungarian–Israeli Friendship Society in Keszthely, which he has led ever since, organizing successful conferences on the history of Hungarian Jewry and Israel. Everyone curious about local heritage and the life story of a once-celebrated beauty queen is warmly invited.
KÖZEL – What Brings Us Closer
On January 26 at 6:30 p.m., head to the Balaton Theatre’s main auditorium for KÖZEL – Sarolta Dobray and Dr. György Bánki’s literary evening, subtitled What Brings Us Closer. The vibe is intimate, whisper-close—an invitation to listen, feel, and lean in. Marking the release of Dobray’s new short story collection Közel (Close), the evening captures the quiet tremors of life: motherhood, loss, childhood memories, soft moments, and tiny gestures that carry big meanings. It nudges us to focus less on what divides us and more on what binds us. These stories are all of us—our doubts, our griefs, our small triumphs. The twist: psychiatrist György Bánki appears not only as a clinician but also as a composer-performer, underscoring the narratives with his own music and offering psychological insights that open unexpected layers. Expect a rare, deeply personal night where the stories don’t end when the lights come up—they linger. The Közel (Close) book will be available for purchase on-site.
Boundless Frames with András Moldován
On February 6 at 6:30 p.m., entrepreneur and Cápák között (Shark Tank Hungary) star investor András Moldován arrives in person at the Balaton Theatre for Boundless Frames – Is Infinite Freedom a Dead End? His interactive talks turn audiences from listeners into participants. Drawing from his second book Határtalan keretek (Boundless Frames), he explores the essential structures individuals and societies need—and why the dream of total freedom, without those frames, often leads straight into a dark cul-de-sac. Come for a thought-provoking yet highly entertaining experience and hear him live.
Science Stand-Up with László Mérő
On February 11 at 7:00 p.m., the Balaton Theatre hosts Scientific Stand-Up – László Mérő: Symbiosis with Artificial Intelligence. Where does AI research stand in the 21st century? Should we fear proliferating machine minds? How are our days—and our future—shaped by the intelligent machines and programs we’ve created? Is the Hollywood terrorscape of machine takeover or technological singularity justified? Mathematician, psychologist, and publicist Dr. László Mérő (a former AI researcher) approaches AI from multiple perspectives—everything but the purely technical—offering a vivid map of the imagined future we already inhabit and are hurtling toward. He also examines how an artificial consciousness, born of our design, can affect individuals psychologically and even physiologically.
Into the Minds of Serial Killers
On February 28 at 7:00 p.m., take your seat in the Balaton Theatre’s main auditorium for Human Beasts – A Glimpse into the Minds of Serial Killers. Tickets: 5,500 HUF (about 15.40 USD). Former top homicide detective Péter Doszpot and consulting psychologist Gábor Antal lead an exclusive dive into the dark world of serial murder. Who are these people, really? What churns in their distorted psyches? What motivates the cruel and the bizarre? How does a psychopath think—and can that be treated? What investigative instincts and methods help police track them? Do serial killers slip up, and how do those mistakes crack cases? Through film clips and real criminal files, the duo show how policing and psychology interlace across infamous Hungarian and international cases from the 20th century to today. Do childhood traumas make a serial killer? What does science say—and what do frontline experiences reveal? Two experts, two angles, one unforgettable evening that answers the most unsettling questions.
Raising Tweens and Teens Today
On March 10 at 6:00 p.m., psychologist, trainer, and university lecturer Dr. Annamária Kádár brings Tweens and Teens – What Are They Like Today, and How Can We Connect Well with Them? to the Balaton Theatre’s main auditorium, presented by the Open Academy. Tickets: 4,200 HUF (about 11.76 USD). If you’re trying to understand the modern adolescent landscape—and build better bridges at home or in the classroom—this is your roadmap to meaningful connection in 2026.
