Szentendre’s Hamvas Béla Pest County Library, at 7 Pátriárka Street, 2000 Szentendre, doubles as a lively cultural hub through 2025 and 2026, mixing literary nights, book launches, talks, concerts, family theater, and mainstage comedies. Beyond its core library role, it plugs into citywide and national initiatives with regular programming that keeps the community buzzing.
Burnout vs. New Challenges – Dr. Imre Csernus
Thursday, December 18, 2025, 18:00
The country’s straight-talking psychiatrist delivers a reality-check talk on swapping burnout for new challenges. Expect tough love, practical pivots, and an evening designed to jolt you out of autopilot before year’s end.
Felicián Kalmus: Winter’s Tale – Cello Concert with Mónika Fischl
Sunday, December 21, 2025, 19:00
When the long, icy nights hit, we light candles, dress up our homes and hearts, and lean into cinnamon, evergreen, laughter, and the glow of memories. Cellist Felicián Kalmus brings that festive, shimmering atmosphere to life with his most beautiful Christmas arrangements, a dash of playfulness, and classical arcs that paint the winter panorama through the cello’s soft voice. The aim: let winter show its gentlest face and write its tale deep in our hearts. Old and new genres blend in seamless harmony in his playing, promising a spell that lingers long after the last note.
The Red Umbrella – Musical Fairy Tale
Saturday, December 27, 2025, 11:00; Sunday, December 28, 2025, 16:00
Debuting in October 2025 at Szentendre Theater (Szentendrei Teátrum), Here Comes the Red Umbrella (Jön a Piros Esernyő), a musical by Anikó Csetényi with music by Gábor Presser, springs to life with Pirkó, Pumi, Rudi the Fox (Róka Rudi), and Tapsi. Pirkó the kitten gets a brilliant red umbrella for her birthday. The sun’s blazing, but she takes it along anyway to show her friends—and quickly discovers how useful a beautiful umbrella can be. By day’s end, she’s made new friends, connected the forest’s many residents, and learned how good it feels to help others.
Tailored for kids 4+ and their parents, the show features live, catchy tunes arranged by Bence Darvas, imaginative visuals, and wonderful puppets designed by Gábor Michac. Directed by György Vidovszky, with a witty adaptation by Ildikó Lőkös, and performed by former members of Kolibri Theater (Kolibri). Cast: Krisztina Nyirkó (Pirkó), Dániel Nizsai (Pumi), Gábor Krausz (Cat Dad/Dezső, Rudi the Fox, Tony the Tortoise/Tipsi), Rita Alexics (Magpie/Csipicsupp), Juli Erdei (Cat Mom/Ida, Bella the Frog), Kármen Rácz (Réka the Fox/Tapsi), Kriszta Rácz (Bunny Teacher/Frog Béla). Live music: double bass by József Radics, György Orbán; accordion by Zoltán Marosi, Sándor Vida. Creative: set/puppets – Gábor Michac; music director – Bence Darvas; dramaturg – Ildikó Lőkös; artistic coordinator – Ildikó Fülöp; director’s associate – Eszter Gyevi Bíró; producers – Zoltán Bereczki, Orsolya Ferenczi. The takeaway: even a simple object can hold special value when used with love. Pirkó’s umbrella rescues the troubled, topples villains, and forges friendships through curiosity, empathy, a drive to help, and belief in our own hidden strength.
Wife Begins at Forty
Monday, December 29, 2025, 19:00 – marriage-boosting comedy, translated by Endre Beleznay
Linda is over it—17 years of marriage, suburban England, the looming 40s, and especially her husband George, who thinks everything’s fine. When George literally falls asleep during intimacy, Linda wants a divorce and a life with real attention and joy. Chaos ensues: their teenage son starts dating, Grandpa rattles off war stories, friends give wild advice, and George, with a nudge from the liquor cabinet, sets out to “rejuvenate” the marriage. Cast: Endre Beleznay (George Harper), Gerda Pikali (Linda Harper), Kristóf Németh (Roger Dixon), Bernadett Gregor (Betty Dixon), Sándor Szűcs (Bernard Harper), Zsombor Náray-Kovács (Leonard Harper). Creatives: set/costume – György Csík; assistant/prompter – Andrea Juhász; directors – Kristóf Németh and Endre Beleznay; producer – Kristóf Németh. Length: 180 minutes with one intermission. Recommended 14+. A Forum Theater–Szentendre Theater (Forum Színház–Szentendrei Teátrum) co-production. Program subject to change.
Pre-New Year’s Waltzes – In Strauss’s Footsteps with the Jávorkai Brothers
Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 19:00
Virtuoso globe-trotting siblings Sándor Jávorkai (violin) and Ádám Jávorkai (cello) salute Johann Strauss on his 200th birthday with a glittering set of waltzes and polkas, leading the Sissi Walzer Orchestra. Before their Japan tour, they bring the authentic Viennese New Year’s vibe to Szentendre, joined by four elegant dancers—adding humor to the sparkle—and rising soprano Elvira Haraszti. Of course, the Radetzky March rings out, with the audience clapping along. Performers: Sándor Jávorkai, Ádám Jávorkai, Elvira Haraszti, Sissi Walzer Orchestra; dancers Edina Molnár, Klaudia Tóth, Dániel Krizsán, Róbert Nagy; choreography by Dániel Krizsán. The perfect year-end crescendo and joyful start to the next.
Scientific Stand-Up – László Mérő: The Power of Words
Monday, January 5, 2026, 19:00 – Dumaszínház night
A coach’s shouted words can lift an athlete from collapse to victory. A hypnotist can trigger trance with a phrase. A consultant’s offhand comment can reroute a CEO’s long-term strategy. No wonder the Illés band sang over 50 years ago: “A szó veszélyes fegyver” (The word is a dangerous weapon). Dynamic, mind-bending, and priced by demand.
Szentendre New Year’s Concert – Orsi Kozma, György Oravecz, Hot Jazz Band
Sunday, January 11, 2026, 18:00
A sparkling tradition returns: popular hits and champagne-bright melodies from classical to jazz. Jazz singer Orsi Kozma, pianist György Oravecz, and the Hot Jazz Band light up the stage for the city’s festive kickoff.
Not Now, Darling!
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 19:00
Minks, lovers, and half-dressed women collide in John Chapman and Ray Cooney’s farce. What starts as a simple triangle explodes into a dozen tangled who’s-with-whom knots as a fur-salon duo scrambles through increasingly impossible situations. Cheating spouses pop in and out, clothing multiplies and disappears, and items fly out the fourth-floor window. The show pokes fun at testosterone-fueled tunnel vision, with the women no less driven—just a bit more material about it. Cast: Sándor Nagy (Gilbert Bodley), András Csonka (Arnold Crouch), Nelly Fésűs / Edina Csáki (Janie McMichael), Enikő Zorgel (Miss Tipdale), Gyöngyi Molnár (Maude Bodley), Kornél Pusztaszeri (Harry McMichael), Edina Csáki / Szandra Holczinger (Sue Lawson), Szandra Fejes / Kriszta Miklós (Mrs. Frencham), Sándor Venyige (Captain Frencham), László Janik (Mr. Lawson), Emma Henczi / Olívia Géczi (Miss Whittington). Set: György Bátonyi; costumes: Szilvia Molnár; director: Sándor Venyige.
American Comedy – A Swing Musical
Sunday, January 18, 2026, 19:00
Based on Károly Aszlányi’s play of the same name. Cast: Kata Janza / Mónika Horváth (Tony Roe), Kornél Simon (Frank Anderson), Ádám Bálint (Albert Morning), Pé… (Alphonse Sapault). Big-band energy, quick-fire dialogue, and toe-tapping swing wrap up the library’s winter run on a high.
