Siófok’s 2026 theater calendar is stacked, lively, and gloriously eclectic. From classic comedies to contemporary monologues, musical revivals to edgy stand-up, the Kálmán Imre Cultural Center (Kálmán Imre Művelődési Központ) at 2 Fő tér becomes a magnet for every generation. Big-name actors, respected companies, a steady stream of premieres and revivals—Balaton-side evenings don’t just pass; they fizz.
Chaos With Benefits: Michael Cooney’s Farce
Sunday, March 1, 7:00 p.m. brings Michael Cooney: Nicsak, ki lakik itt?!, a two-part madhouse retooled in 2025 from Bánfalvy Stúdió’s 2018 version. Translator and dramaturg: Benedek Albert, who also revised it with Oliver W. Horvath and HCS. Director: Horváth Csaba. Producers: HCS, Oliver W. Horvath. Headliners include Varga Izabella, Hujber Ferenc, Ganxsta Zolee, Sándor Péter, Bugár Anna.
The setup: a London-based Hungarian, Róbert Szűcs, gorges on every imaginable benefit—unemployment, old-age pension, sick pay, child support, disability allowance, even free cow’s milk—plus a side hustle involving nursing bras that stokes his wife’s jealousy. Scared of getting caught, he decides to ditch the illicit money rather than his wife or his freedom. But shaking off state support? Easier dreamed than done. Cast highlights: Linda Szűcs-Swan (Varga Iza/Kondákor Zsófia), Róbert Szűcs (Hujber Ferenc), Pawel Duda (Harmath Imre/Gombás Ádám), Mr. George Jenkins (Gombás Ádám/Kiss Zoli), Gyurka (Ganxsta Zolee), Sally Chessington (Bugár Anna/Kondákor Zsófia), Dr. Chapman (Sándor Péter/Hajdu Levente), Mr. Fortbright (Imre István/Csányi Dávid), Miss Cowper (György Orsolya), Magdalena Szmrczyk (Stelczer Timi).
A Film Turns Musical: We Never Die (Sose halunk meg)
Tuesday, March 10, 7:00 p.m., the Pannon Várszínház stages Dés László, Nemes István, Koltai Róbert, Nógrádi Gábor: Sose halunk meg – musical (We Never Die), part of the Karinthy season pass. The beloved Koltai Róbert film reawakens with Dés László’s score. Uncle Gyuszi—the coat-hanger man—marches his teenage nephew and us through early-60s Hungary: places, characters, shifting morals, all with a bittersweet glow. A small man’s passion play, echoing iconic Hungarian archetypes from The Corporal and the Others (A tizedes meg a többiek), Football of the Good Old Days (A régi idők focija), and of course Koltai’s own cinematic legend.
Cast: Gyula (Koscsisák András), Imi (Szelle Dávid), Mother (Oravecz Edit), Father (Keresztesi László), Boldi (Molnár Ervin/Pintér Zoltán Dániel), Nusi (Lovas Juci), Simula/Butcher/Priest (Németh Ádám), Pucus/Fakanalas/Balog II. (Jónás Szabolcs), Greengrocer/Irma/Deutsch néni (Fekete Linda), Deutsch bácsi (Krámer György), Teréz (Pap Lívia), Inspector/Doctor/Priznyák (Lukács Félix), Ancika and others (Farkas Fruzsina), Policeman (Pintér Zoltán Dániel/Csabai Pál), Cultural Center Director (Kuti Gergely/Perger Titán), Pianist (Perger Titán/Mihalecz Balázs), plus ensemble. Set: Kovács Yvette Alida. Costumes: Justin Júlia. Choreography: Krámer György. Director’s team: Balázs Nikolett, Magashegyi Nóra. Director: Vándorfi László. Runtime: 2 hours 30 minutes with intermission.
Inside the Workshop: Pál Mácsai (Mácsai Pál)
Wednesday, March 25, 7:00 p.m., Műhelylátogatás – Mácsai Pál estje peels back the curtain on how poems become performance. The tools are stories, doubts, memories. Why this phrasing? Why this breath? Arany, Petőfi, Ady, József Attila, Kosztolányi, Babits, Pilinszky, Orbán Ottó, Petri, Parti Nagy, Villon–Faludy, Tóth Krisztina—filtered through Mácsai’s lens and voice.
Dangerously Funny: Zoltán Mucsi’s EgyÉletem
Thursday, March 26, 7:00 p.m., EgyÉletem – Mucsi Zoltán is a 90-minute biographical stand-up. Kapa—that’s what the nation calls him—didn’t have it easy. He trained as a locksmith, dreamed of football, stumbled into the Szolnok Szigligeti Theatre (Szolnoki Szigligeti Színház) as an assistant actor and let theater devour him for 15 years, climbing from one-liners to leads. Budapest beckoned, film and stage leads followed, and with Péter Scherer came the Kapa–Pepe duo. Now he spills the biggest beats of his life: childhood in Abony, delivering newspapers in Szolnok, the wrenching dramatic roles, the electrician sketch, from Jancsó films to Tóth János—plus family, because life’s not whole without them. Director-producer: Lévai Balázs. Dramaturg: Gyulay Eszter. Visuals/VJ: Kőváry Dani, Mucsi Milán. Lights: Ács István. Production manager: Fantoly Nikolett. Mucsi jokes: I’m expecting world peace and a better humanity from this evening—and a climate solution. Even a sliver will do.
Barefoot, Newlywed, and Spiraling
Saturday, March 28, 7:00 p.m., Neil Simon: Barefoot in the Park (Mezítláb a parkban), Orlai Produkció. Paul and Corie are newlyweds: he’s a conservative, ambitious lawyer; she’s a romantic free spirit. She finds the perfect top-floor apartment in an old building—nobody can bother them. Or is that just blissful delusion? The laugh riot turns into sharp-edged games as both fight to feel at home in their shared life. Cast: Corie (László Lili), Paul (Rohonyi Barnabás), Mrs. Banks (Kerekes Éva), Victor Velasco (Epres Attila), Telephone repairman (Ficzere Béla). Tickets: stalls 3,500 HUF (about 9.70 USD), balcony 4,000 HUF (about 11.10 USD).
Marriage Rehab, 1980s Style
Monday, March 30, 7:00 p.m., The Wife Starts at Forty (A feleség negyvennél kezdődik) – a marriage-repair comedy, Forum Színház. By Arne Sultan, Earl Barrett, Ray Cooney. Translator: Beleznay Endre. Cast: George Harper (Beleznay Endre), Linda Harper (Pikali Gerda/Gregor Bernadett), Roger Dixon (Németh Kristóf/Suhajda Dániel), Betty Dixon (Gregor Bernadett/Vanya Tímea/Domokos Éva Lili), Bernard Harper (Faragó András/Szűcs Sándor), Leonard Harper (Náray-Kovács Zsombor/Kozma Milos/Várhelyi Áron/Kovács Dominik). Sets/Costumes: Csík György. Assistant/Prompter: Juhász Andrea. Directors: Németh Kristóf, Beleznay Endre. Producer: Németh Kristóf.
Linda’s fed up: 17 years of marriage, tidy suburban England, the looming big four-oh—and George. He’s fine with the status quo until he literally falls asleep during sex. Linda wants out, chasing tenderness, attention, and life. Their teen son’s dating, grandpa’s stuck on army tales, friends offer bonkers advice, and George—helped by the liquor cabinet—sets out to rejuvenate the marriage. A crackling British comedy with an ’80s vibe and a starry cast. Length: 180 minutes, one intermission. Recommended 14+.
Love on a Seesaw
Monday, April 20, 6:00 p.m., William Gibson: Seesaw – Black Comedy (Libikóka – fekete komédia), Art-Színtér. Love’s a balancing act: up and down, trying to meet in the middle like Gittel and Jerry. They think they know the rules; they don’t. A turning point forces them to confront their own intentions, let alone each other’s. Cast: Woman (Kardffy Aisha), Man (Kerényi Miklós Máté). Director: Csiby Gergely. Tickets: stalls 4,500 HUF (about 12.50 USD), balcony 4,000 HUF (about 11.10 USD).
Frida’s Fiery Monologue
Tuesday, April 21, 7:00 p.m., Anna Varsányi (Varsányi Anna): Frida – a musical romance. A witty, humane, music-laced monodrama honoring the love of Mexican titans Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. A teasing slice: He’s still asleep. Snores like mad, but his chin melting into the pillow is beautiful. Awake, he looks exactly like an obese tree frog. Cast: Frida Kahlo (Lukács Melinda), Katalin Karády (Karády Katalin) Prize-winner.
Fairy Tale Morning
Saturday, April 25, 10:30 a.m., Cinderella – fairy-tale musical (Hamupipőke – mesemusical) at the Kálmán Imre Cultural Center (Kálmán Imre Kulturális Központ). The cherished classic, retold by two contemporary Hungarian authors for a new generation.
