Keszthely’s Balaton Theater (Balaton Színház) rolls out a packed 2026–2027 season with crowd-pleasing plays, concerts, and comedy nights, welcoming thousands of season-ticket holders each year. As a host venue, it draws acclaimed Hungarian and international musicians and regularly stages Dumaszínház stand-up shows. The theater is at 8360 Keszthely, Fő tér 3. Ticket prices range from roughly USD 7.60 to USD 44.40. Box office and info are available via the venue’s contacts and booking links.
A Pál utcai fiúk (The Paul Street Boys) — Musical Play
July 14, 2026, 19:00 — Balaton Theater, Main Auditorium. Ticket: USD 26.30. Presented by Pannon Castle Theater (Pannon Várszínház).
Ferenc Molnár’s world-famous novel returns with a fresh sting: not as a story of children, but of young people, heightening the drama and tension. The production embraces today’s musical language and lyrics, amplifying themes of heroism, betrayal, frailty, and love of homeland. Nemecsek, Boka, Feri Áts, and the gang remain eternal touchstones—always our contemporaries.
The staging highlights the acoustic life of objects; the actors’ musical-rhythmic inventiveness, youthful energy, and humor; and the original work’s cathartic punch.
Cast highlights:
– Mr. Rácz, teacher; Janó, the Grund’s guard: Csaba Zayzon / László Vándorfi
– The Paul Street Boys: Boka (Dávid Szelle); Nemecsek (Tamás Havasi / Olivér Rákos / Árpád Csaba Szente); Geréb (Ádám Németh / László Béhr / Csaba Zayzon); Csónakos (Ákos Guba / Szabolcs Jónás); Kolnay (Ervin Molnár / Zoltán Dániel Pintér / Gábor Kovács); Barabás (Roland Ruff / Gergely Kuti); Weisz (Márton Zoltán Budai / Gábor Kovács / Szabolcs Jónás / Péter Boda); Richter (Attila Farkas-Csányi / Gábor Kovács / Szabolcs Jónás / Titán Perger / Péter Boda); Csele (Pál Csabai / Márton Zoltán Budai / Félix Lukács / Árpád Csaba Szente); Leszik (Máté Kiss / Ákos Guba / Zoltán Dániel Pintér / Titán Perger / Péter Boda)
– The Red Shirts: Feri Áts (Norbert Kátai / Ádám Németh / Máté Bátor Soós); Elder Pásztor (László Keresztesi / Márton Lenchés); Younger Pásztor (Márton Lenchés / Pál Csabai / Richárd Pásztor / Lajos Szabó); Szebenics (Gábor Kovács / András Burián / Lajos Szabó / Zoltán Dániel Pintér / Félix Lukács)
– Ensemble Red Shirts include Levente Schvéder, Richárd Pásztor, Ádám Patkó, Lajos Szabó, Ákos Guba, András Burián, Bulcsú Nagy, Zoltán Dániel Pintér, Pál Csabai, Gergely Kuti, Titán Perger, Balázs Mihalecz, Félix Lukács.
Creative team: Staging and direction by László Vándorfi; Costumes by Júlia Justin; Production lead Dávid Szelle; Choreography György Krámer. Based on Ferenc Molnár’s novel. Stage adaptation shaped with contributions by László Marton and Zsuzsa Radnóti, incorporating elements of Sándor Török’s reworking.
Sose halunk meg (We Never Die) — Musical
August 4, 2026, 19:00 — Balaton Theater, Main Auditorium. Ticket: USD 23.70. Presented by Pannon Castle Theater (Pannon Várszínház).
Róbert Koltai’s unforgettable film becomes a musical with László Dés’s superb score. Uncle Gyuszi, the coat-hanger peddler, escorts his teenage nephew—and us—through early-1960s Hungary, introducing vivid places, characters, and life moments. It’s a cheerful tale and a small man’s passion play, echoing beloved Hungarian archetypes: the hero of The Corporal and Others (A tizedes meg a többiek), Minarik from Soccer of the Old Times (A régi idők focija), and of course Koltai’s own film figure.
The twist: cinematic dramaturgy realized not with technology but with the live theater’s raw power.
Cast: Gyula (András Koscsisák); Imi (Dávid Szelle); Mother (Edit Oravecz); Father (László Keresztesi); Boldi (Ervin Molnár / Zoltán Dániel Pintér); Nusi (Juci Lovas); Simula/Butcher/Priest (Ádám Németh); Pucus/Wooden Spoon/Balog II (Szabolcs Jónás); Greengrocer/Irma/Mrs. Deutsch (Linda Fekete); Mr. Deutsch (György Krámer); Teréz (Lívia Pap); Inspector/Doctor/Priznyák (Félix Lukács); Ancika/Loud/Kerchief Seller/Évike/Ica/Woman (Fruzsina Farkas); Policeman (Zoltán Dániel Pintér / Pál Csabai); Director of the Cultural Center (Gergely Kuti / Titán Perger); Pianist (Titán Perger / Balázs Mihalecz); Woman (Nóra Magashegyi / Linda Fekete). Ensemble includes Nikolett Balázs, Pál Csabai, Fruzsina Farkas, Vanda Horváth, Zsófia Kovács, Gergely Kuti, Félix Lukács, Nóra Magashegyi, Balázs Mihalecz, Titán Perger, Zoltán Dániel Pintér, Borbála Szalontai, Boglárka Takáts.
Creative team: Set design Yvette Alida Kovács; Costumes Júlia Justin; Choreography György Krámer; Director’s team Nikolett Balázs, Nóra Magashegyi; Director László Vándorfi. Running time: 150 minutes with one intermission.
Az osztály vesztese (The Loser of the Class) — Youth Theater
September 21, 2026, 11:00 — Balaton Theater, Main Auditorium. Ticket: USD 9.20. Presented by Budaörs Latinovits Theater (Budaörsi Latinovits Színház). Duration: 60 minutes, no intermission. Recommended from age 10.
From Anikó Wéber’s hit novel, ten fifth-graders step into focus: Kristóf, the dragon fanatic; Feri, small, quiet, a grind; Domi, the joker and firecracker; Bálint—just Bálint. Áron is angry and always hungry. Csaba, the strange new kid. Fanni smells. Anti st-st-stutters. Lili, the princess, is so sweet. Life isn’t easy here. Balázs? He’s popular.
For literature class they build a Facebook profile for Jancsi Kukoricza (János vitéz), sharing the password and posting pics, links, quotes. Then a photo appears: a masked, bound figure under the graffiti “The Loser of the Class.” Who posted it? Who’s in the photo? In 5.a, anyone could be the culprit—or the victim. Who would you trade places with? Who do you resemble? Who would you befriend? Have you been hurt—or hurt someone?
Cast: Orsi Szőts, Kristóf Fröhlich, Botond Vrabecz (guest). Stage adaptation by Angéla Kolozsi from Anikó Wéber’s novel.
Kéz a kézben (Hand in Hand) — Operetta and Musical Gala
September 27, 2026, 17:00 — Balaton Theater, Main Auditorium. Tickets: USD 20.00; USD 22.70.
A one-night-only showcase starring Marika Oszvald, Anna Peller, and Károly Peller. Expect the biggest operetta and musical hits: evergreen melodies by Lehár, Kálmán, and Huszka, plus beloved Broadway selections. Elegant, entertaining, and emotion-rich, this gala blends humor, nostalgia, passion, and a pure love of theater—crafted to linger in memory long after the curtain falls.
Ray Cooney: A miniszter félrelép (Out of Order) — Farce
January 28, 2027, 19:00 — Balaton Theater, Main Auditorium. Tickets: USD 22.40; USD 25.00. A Bánfalvy Stúdió production.
Richard Willey, a slick young cabinet minister, sneaks off to a grand hotel for a fling with opposition secretary Jane. They open the window—and find a body wedged there. Richard drags in his jittery parliamentary secretary, George Pigden, and chaos multiplies: the manager and head waiter intrude at the worst moments, while Richard’s wife, George’s mother’s nurse, and the lover’s jealous husband pile on the mayhem. And the night still has surprises.
Cast: Richard Willey (Ádám Gombás); The Manager (Imre Harmath / Gyula Mesterházy); The Head Waiter (Gábor Urmai / Miklós Hegedüs); Jane Worthington (Zsófia Kondákor); The Body (Gábor Pintér / Ádám Gombás); George Pigden (Ferenc Hujber); Ronnie (Ganxsta Zolee); Pamela (Anna Bugár / Réka Léda Mezei); Nurse (Tímea Stelczer).
Creative team: Director Csaba Horváth; Producers HCS, Oliver W. Horvath; Choreography Gyula Antal Horváth; Set and costumes Gabriella Győri; Translation Tamás Ungvári; Dramaturg Albert Benedek. Winner of the 1992 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy.
Dates and Location
– July 14, 2026 — Keszthely
– August 4, 2026 — Keszthely
– September 21, 2026 — Keszthely
– September 27, 2026 — Keszthely
– January 28, 2027 — Keszthely
Venue for all: Balaton Theater (Balaton Színház), 8360 Keszthely, Fő tér 3.
