Keszthely’s Balaton Theater (Balaton Színház) is rolling out a season of free and ticketed live events that blend intimate conversations, literature, psychology, business insight, science, and true crime. Across multiple dates and venues within the theater, audiences are invited to evenings that promise closeness, curiosity, and thought-provoking debate—with surprises along the way. Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs.
Dec 16, 2025 — Kedd-Velem with Chef Tibor Zámbó
Time: 2025.12.16, 6:00 p.m.
Venue: Balaton Theater (Balaton Színház), Simándy Hall
Admission: Free
An up-close conversation with the person behind the profession. Guest: Tibor Zámbó, master chef and mentor of “13 Séf.” Host: Zoltán Csányi. Expect a candid, human-focused talk with one of Hungary’s culinary mentors about craft, mentorship, and the stories that shaped his kitchen life—served in a relaxed, accessible format in Keszthely’s city center at 8360, Fő tér 3.
Jan 26, 2026 — KÖZEL (CLOSE): A Literary Evening
Time: 2026.01.26, 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Balaton Theater (Balaton Színház), Main Theater
Title: KÖZEL – AMI ÖSSZEKÖT (CLOSE – WHAT BINDS US)
A musical, psychological, literary surprise evening with writer Sarolta Dobray and psychiatrist-composer-performer Dr. György Bánki. The tone is intimate and sensory: Come here. Closer. Very close… Do you hear? Are you listening? Do you feel? Now we tell a story.
Dobray invites audiences to a tender evening marking the release of her new short story collection, Közel (Close). The book captures life’s most delicate tremors: motherhood, loss, childhood memories, whispering moments, tiny yet telling gestures—those passing instants that everyday life rushes past, but when we let them in, they reveal entire worlds. The focus: not what separates us, but what connects us. These stories hold our feelings, doubts, losses, and victories.
The special twist: Dr. Bánki appears not only as a psychiatrist but also as a composer and performer, pairing his own pieces with the readings and offering psychological insights that open new layers within us. Join a rare, intimate night where the story doesn’t just end—it keeps living in you. You may walk home feeling you’re not alone. The Közel volume will be available for purchase on-site during the event.
Feb 6, 2026 — András Moldován: Boundless Frames
Time: 2026.02.06, 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Balaton Theater (Balaton Színház), Main Theater
Talk: Határtalan keretek – Zsákutca a végtelen szabadság? (Boundless Frames – Is Infinite Freedom a Dead End?)
Meet András Moldován live. His interactive talks turn audiences into participants. Building on his second book, Határtalan keretek, he reframes the essential boundaries individuals and societies need—without them, the dream of total freedom becomes a dark cul-de-sac. Experience a stimulating, entertaining evening and hear the star investor from the show Among Sharks (Cápák között, the Hungarian Shark Tank) in person.
Feb 11, 2026 — Scientific Stand-Up with László Mérő
Time: 2026.02.11, 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Balaton Theater (Balaton Színház)
Talk: Szimbiózis a mesterséges intelligenciával (Symbiosis with Artificial Intelligence)
Where is AI research in the 21st century? Should we fear proliferating machine minds? How are intelligent machines and programs shaping our days and the future—and are Hollywood nightmares about machine takeovers or technological singularity justified? Mathematician-psychologist-publicist Dr. László Mérő (formerly an AI researcher) explores multiple non-technical angles of AI, sketching the imagined future we already inhabit and the one we’re racing toward, including the psychological and even physiological effects of artificial minds on individuals.
Feb 28, 2026 — Human Beasts: Inside Serial Killers’ Minds
Time: 2026.02.28, 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Balaton Theater (Balaton Színház), Main Theater
Ticket: $15.20
A gripping evening with former top homicide detective Péter Doszpot and consulting psychologist Gábor Antal. Who are serial killers really? What lies in their distorted psyches, and what motives drive their cruel, bizarre acts? How does a psychopath think—and can they be treated? What investigative skills are needed to track them, and do they make mistakes that lead to their capture?
Through film clips and real cases, the duo shows how policing and psychology intertwine across notorious Hungarian and international cases from the 20th century to today. Do childhood traumas make a serial killer? What does science say—and field experience? Two experts, two perspectives, one unforgettable night. Discover this dark world with us—see you at the lecture!
