The Szentendre Theater (Szentendrei Színház) promises another summer packed with surprises for culture-hungry audiences: top-tier directors and artists, an impressive mix of new premieres and acclaimed shows, and genres ranging from drama to musical, opera, jazz, world, and classical concerts. Here’s what not to miss during the Szentendre Summer of 2025.
Epic Stories and Standouts
Kicking things off on July 25, “János Vitéz – Stage Concert” (“János vitéz – színcert”) blends Petőfi’s literary classic with unique live music: expect handpans, steel drums, kalimba, and looping magic from percussionist Kornél Mogyoró, vocalist Veronika Tarján, and actor Ákos Orosz. The 75-minute show transcends the usual boundaries of theater and concert, transporting everyone to a fairy-tale world. Rain date: July 26.
Two days later (July 27), “Jókai Promenade 200” (“Jókai sétány 200”) debuts as a genre-bending cultural stand-up focusing on the prolific 19th-century writer Mór Jókai’s life and strangest anecdotes—like his fallouts with Liszt and his love of music chosen by the heart, not the head—brought to life by Krisztián Nyáry, Ádám Bősze, and actress Kata Bach. Recommended for ages 16+; runs two hours with an intermission.
Singing Legends and Local Classics
July 28 features the dramatic musical biography “Piaf, Queen of Chansons” (“Piaf, a sanzonok királynője”), with Erika Nádasy’s riveting one-hour performance delivering a whirlwind tour of Edith Piaf’s greatest hits alongside the diva’s turbulent life story. She’s joined by a full live band; rain date: July 29.
On August 1 and again on August 27, “Danube Bend” (“Karinthy Ferenc: Dunakanyar”) returns—a bittersweet one-act comedy set in a 1968 café, where a lonely man and the coffee lady embark on a tentative romance. Starring Dóra Szinetár and Zalán Makranczi; 80 minutes, no intermission.
Tradition, Dance, and Music
Söndörgő—the internationally acclaimed Hungarian-South Slavic folk band—celebrates its 30th anniversary on August 2 with a “XXX” album launch party on home turf, joined by saxophonist Dominik Kosztolánszki. Shows at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., expect 90 minutes of high-energy virtuosity.
August 7-8, “Poor Johnny and Arnica” (“Szegény Dzsoni és Árnika”) transforms Ervin Lázár’s timeless story into a fresh, movement- and music-filled spectacle, swapping puppets for dance with the Nagyvárad Dance Ensemble (Nagyvárad Táncegyüttes). Directed by Péter Novák, it runs 80 minutes.
Baroque Flair
A double dose of Baroque arrives August 9 with “Fairies and Nymphs” (“Tündérek és Nimfák”)—English Baroque court dances capped off with a lively dance house—and August 10’s “Heroes and Virtuosos” (“Hősök és Virtuózok”), a feast of 18th-century arias and concertos by Purcell, Handel, Boyce, and Geminiani, starring soprano Eszter Balogh and an elite early music ensemble. Both shows are 90 minutes.
Quirk, Comedy, and Modern Dilemmas
Don’t miss “Water Songs” (“Víz-dalok”) on August 10 at the Barlang Courtyard (Barlang-udvar), where the multi-talented Kriszta Kováts and genre-defying composer Edina “Mókus” Szirtes perform whimsical tunes about the world’s waters, dolphin dervishes, and missing plumbers—90 minutes with quirky lyrics by Péter Fábri.
August 11’s “Weekend of Your Life” (“Életed hétvégéje”) whisks a young couple to a mysterious remote house for a musical relationship game—no phone, no internet, just existential crises and a surprise visitor. Cast: Anna Sóvári-Fehér, László Hevesi, József Kerekes. 80 minutes, no intermission.
Exploring Love, Loss, and Laughter
On August 13, “Happily Ever After… Even Divorced” (“Boldogan éltek”) presents a brutally honest but hopeful look at family life after divorce, following Anna and Gergő from pain to mature co-parenting in just 100 punchy minutes.
“The Owl and the Pussycat” (“A bagoly és a macska”) takes the stage on August 15, with Anna and Károly Peller as two mismatched neighbors forced together for a night, sparking a comic tempest.
August 16’s “From Bed and Table” (“Ágytól, asztaltól”) offers a smart, musical look at relationships, break-ups, and make-ups through famous movie scenes.
On August 17, the solo show “Most of All, I Feared Women” (“Legjobban a nőktől féltem”) sees a young man’s world unravel in a musical, self-deprecating spiral—performed by Barnabás Dékány. 18+ only.
August 18’s “Eternal Types – Operetta Stand-up” (“Örök típusok – operett stand-up”) is a whirlwind tour through the genre’s greatest hits and oddities, guided by operetta luminaries Mónika Fischl, Szilvi Szendy, Gergely Boncsér, Károly Peller, and host Ferenc László.
Theater for Thought and Surprise
“Map from the Afterlife” (“Térkép a túlvilágról”), August 21-22, draws from Péter Kárpáti’s new novel, weaving real and imagined encounters between iconic Hungarian figures into a deeply personal and poetic drama (ages 12+; 100 minutes, no intermission).
August 23-24 brings the world premiere of “Struck by Lightning” (“Villámcsapottak”), a real-life inspired, partly improvised signature blend from director Réka Kincses, probing fate, statistics, religion, and chance across generations shaped by Eastern European history and education.
Finales and Family
Wrapping up on August 26, “Forever… Free…” (“Örökké… szabadon…”) is a witty, touching two-person show about family skeletons, soap operas, and a mother-son reunion, starring Athina Papadimitriu and Péter Sándor.
Tickets for all events are available online. If you crave culture and surprises, Szentendre Theater (Szentendrei Színház) has your summer sorted.
