Szombathely’s AGORA rolls out a year-long cultural feast of exhibitions, concerts, theater, dance, and family programs at 9700 Szombathely, Március 15 Square (Március 15. tér) 5. True to its ancient Greek roots as a communal space, the Agora curates quality, crowd-pleasing events for every generation in Hungary’s oldest city.
French Farce Fires Up Opening Week
May 4, Monday, 19:00, Szombathely Agora: Add kölcsön a feleséged (Lend Me Your Wife), a two-act French comedy, revolves around a minister on the brink of becoming prime minister—until MP Bouladon demands a week-long trip with the minister’s wife to Cape Verde and threatens to expose secrets if refused. Bribes fly, a “sex-hungry” stand-in is offered, and the chaos barrels toward a laugh-out-loud end. Cast: Bertrand Guéraud, minister (Zoltán Szőke); Raoul Thiaut, secretary (András Várkonyi); Agathe Mareuil, press officer (Katinka Cseke); Pauline Guéraud, wife (Zsuzsi Tóth); Antoine Bouladon, MP (László Zsiga); Nathalie Klein, journalist (Kincső Pethő).
Egypt, Gift of the Nile—Travel Talk
May 7, 16:30, Water Tower (Víztorony): Tibor Pék’s free, registration-only lecture, Egypt, Gift of the Nile (Egyiptom a Nílus ajándéka), channels Herodotus and Egyptian myth: Ra’s solar barque, the scarab’s promise of immortality, gods of sky, earth, water, and sun—even crocodiles. Spotlight on the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the last standing ancient wonder and a “cosmic machine,” plus 80 of Egypt’s 120 pyramids still standing. Route: Cairo, Giza, Saqqara, Memphis, Zafarana, Hurghada, Luxor, Thebes, Medinet Habu, Dendera, Abydos, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Abu Simbel, Aswan, Karnak. “Man fears time, time fears the pyramids.”
Make Your Own Natural Care
May 9, 09:00, AGORA-MSH: Natural Cosmetics Workshop (Natúrkozmetikum workshop) led by Bernadett Galambos teaches how to craft floral and herbal soaps, nourishing creams, and eco cleansers while exploring beneficial scents and ingredients. For adults and ages 12+. Fee: $31.80 (11,500 HUF).
Youth Arts Take the Stage
May 12, 10:00, AGORA-MSH: The AGORA Children’s and Youth Arts Festival presents performing arts showcases by students, kindergarteners, and amateur groups from the city of Szombathely and district, Vas County.
World Travelers: Tanzanian Safari
May 12, 17:00, AGORA–Savaria Cinema: Traveler Bernadett Dala tours Tanzania from Zanzibar’s spice-scented, white-sand shores to Mikumi National Park’s elephants, lions, and giraffes. Fee: $2.77 (1,000 HUF).
Kodály 60 Gala
May 14, 17:00, AGORA-MSH: The Paragvári Street Primary School Music Department and AGORA Savaria Nonprofit mark 60 years since Zoltán Kodály’s visit and the founding of the Kodály Choir. Current and former students and teachers perform. Free entry, no registration.
The Jungle Book Musical
May 17, Sunday, 17:00: The beloved musical by László Dés, Péter Geszti, and Pál Békés—shaped with D. Géza Hegedűs and Zsuzsa Radnóti—reimagines the jungle as a mirror of society’s strict laws. Mowgli’s trials meet the pull of love in a stirring finale. Cast highlights: Mowgli (Ádám Németh / Ákos Guba), Young Mowgli (Ábel Kiss), Akela (László Keresztesi), Bagheera (Lívia Pap), Baloo (Ervin Molnár / Szabolcs Jónás), Kaa (Dávid Szelle), Shere Khan (Csaba Zayzon). Sets/costumes: Yvette Alida Kovács; music: Zsuzsa Regovics; choreography: György Krámer, László Bóbis; director: László Vándorfi.
May Club: Team Slam
May 20, 18:00, AGORA-MSH: Slam poetry night mixing literature, pop culture, theater, rap, and stand-up. Three-minute themed rounds, jury scores. Tickets: $2.77 (1,000 HUF), St. Martin discount: $2.49 (900 HUF).
Dumaszínház: The Brain of the World
May 30, Saturday, 17:30 and 20:00: László Hadházi’s solo comedy, hosted by László Lovász, riffs on stopping your brain, deciphering messages from past and present, and the effort it takes to become foolish—if only briefly. Dynamic pricing applies.
Memorial Day for Hungarian Heroes
May 31, 10:00, Március 15 Square (Március 15. tér): Ceremony honoring patriots who fought for Hungary’s freedom, independence, and survival. Flag-raising with honors, festive program, speech, and wreath-laying.
Ray Cooney’s Run for Your Wife
June 4, Thursday, 19:00: In Wimbledon and Richmond, two wives call the police about the same tardy taxi driver—John Smith—whose double life unravels after a good deed leads to an address mix-up. Cast: John (Dénes Száraz), Mary (Ramóna Kiss / Anna Bugár), Barbara (Léda Mezei), Stanley (Endre Beleznay), Inspector Porterhouse (Imre Harmath), Inspector Troughton (Dániel Suhajda / Gyula Mesterházy), Bobby (Zoltán Kiss), Photographer (Gábor Pintér). Director: Csaba Horváth; producer: HCS, Oliver W. Horváth; translation/dramaturgy: Albert Benedek; design: Gabriella Győri; choreography: Gyula Antal Horváth.
Autumn Highlights: Classics and Legends
Oct 3, Saturday, 19:00: The Attic (A padlás) by Gábor Presser, Dusán Sztevanovity, and Péter Horváth—half fairy tale, half musical for ages 9–99—mixes time travel, ghosts, and wry philosophy about life’s big questions. Directed by László Vándorfi; design by Yvette Alida Kovács; choreography by György Krámer; music coaching by Zsuzsa Regovics. Cast includes Tamás Havasi / Roland Ruff as Rádiós and Edit Oravecz as Mamóka.
Oct 11, Sunday, 11:00: Beauty and the Beast, a one-act, 55-minute musical tale for ages 5–12, with U.S.-made masks, theatrical costumes, projection sets, and classical score. Narrator: Péter Kertész; Belle: Renáta Vincze; Beast/Gaston: Sándor Gergely Vass. Motto: “Remember, inner beauty shines brighter than any appearance and is worth more than any treasure!”
Oct 11, Sunday, 19:00: Pál Szécsi Memorial Concert—EMERTON-winning singer-actor Róbert Gergely honors the icon ahead of his 80th birth anniversary with fresh arrangements and classics like Csak egy tánc volt, Violák, Két összeillő ember, Karolina, plus stories, documents, and film clips.
Oct 26, Monday, 19:00: Zorán Tour 2026—expect evergreen hits, rarities, band spotlights, and impeccable musicianship. A guaranteed, soul-lifting night.
November–December Curtain Calls
Nov 15, Sunday, 11:00: Aladdin and the Magic Lamp (Aladdin és a csodalámpa), a one-act play of love, genies, and palace intrigue. Cast: Aladdin (Kristóf Uwe Berecz / Gergő Fogarassy), Jasmine/Ring Spirit (Jázmin/Gyűrű Szelleme) (Melinda Boda), Sultan (András Fogarassy / László Egri), Genie (András Borbíró), Vizier (Viktor Bor), Fatima/Mother/Spider (Zsuzsa Szabó / Andi Dóka).
Nov 15, Sunday, 19:00: Barefaced Truth, or You Have to Know How to Lie! (Szemenszedett igazság, avagy hazudni tudni kell!) A two-act Pesti Művész Színház comedy of cascading lies as Michel juggles an affair with Alice—who’s married to his best friend Paul—until truth floods in like an open tap. Cast: Michel (Géza Egyházi), Alice (Bernadett Fogarassy), Paul (Sándor Várfi), Laurence (Zsuzsa Nyertes). Director: András Márton; sets: G. Péter Halász; costumes: Mária Reidinger; translation: György Baráthy.
Nov 21, Saturday, 17:00: The Jungle Book (A dzsungel könyve) by Roxszínház returns—coming-of-age lessons between the pack and solitude; tickets refundable only for cancellations/date changes, freely transferable; program/cast subject to change.
Dec 5, Saturday, 19:00: Attila Kökény & Viktor Rakonczai—“I See You Again…” (Újra látlak…)
Dec 30, Wednesday, 19:00: Ray Cooney: Out of Order (Kölcsönlakás), presented by Bánfalvy Stúdió.
