Debrecen4U September 17, 2025

The eighth MagdaFeszt is coming: Honoring the spirit of Magda Szabó in Debrecen

This year’s MagdaFeszt will once again pay tribute to the legacy of Debrecen-born author Magda Szabó—now for the eighth time. Musical adaptations of her works will also be featured during the festival.

The three-day interdisciplinary event will showcase theatre, literature, and music. In addition to performances by the Csokonai National Theatre, visitors can enjoy a portrait exhibition, roundtable discussions, and an interactive choral concert celebrating Szabó’s literary contributions.

Two years ago, audiences experienced the “Speak Now” evening performance at MagdaFeszt. This year, musical productions return with an interactive choral concert on the festival’s second day. The repertoire is curated by Dávid Dinya, choir director of the Csokonai National Theatre.

“Several composers working in contemporary classical music were invited to set selected works of Magda Szabó to music. It’s a wonderful initiative. Among them is Ákos Zarándy,” Deputy General Director of the Csokonai National Theatre Lóránt Bocskor-Salló said. One of Magdea Szabó’s sonnets, If You Come, will be brought to life by the choir.

Just as the Térey Book Festival wraps up, MagdaFeszt begins. Deputy Mayor István Puskás emphasized during the event briefing that the festival was first held in 2017, marking Magda Szabó’s centenary.

“It’s not only about Magda Szabó herself, but also about continuing her legacy—creating a forum and focus for female perspectives and creators. It gives us the opportunity to reflect on ourselves through this unique lens,” he noted.

The WOMANEXT Business Club, led by Gyöngyi Porkoláb, will once again host roundtable discussions. One session will explore literature as a form of enterprise, while another is titled Debrecen Doors: Crossing Boundaries.

“The door itself is a powerful symbol—it probes the boundaries of life. We’re born through one, and when we see the exit sign, we know there are questions and responsibilities on both sides,” she said.

The 8th MagdaFeszt begins on Friday, October 3rd at 3:15 PM in the foyer of the Csokonai Forum.

Programs:

Friday, October 3
8:00 am – 8:00 pm – Strong Women – Portrait exhibition by Belgian painter Alma van Win Venue: Méliusz Juhász Péter Central Library

3:15 pm – Festival Opening in the Foyer of the Csokonai Fórum

3:30 pm – 5:20 pm – National Theatre: Sári Fedák – Solo performance by Nelli Szűcs (Venue: Csokonai Fórum, Árpád Kóti Hall)

6:00 pm – 7:45 pm – Art-Színtér – Artist Center Agency: Pál Göttingen: On the Trapeze in Tulle – A musical play about prima donnas (Venue: Csokonai Fórum, Zoltán Latinovits Hall)

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Malter Short Films – Through Women’s Eyes
7:30 pm – Discussion
Venue: Apolló Cinema

8:00 pm – 9:15 pm – Óbuda Social Circle: Krystyna Janda: Danuta W. – The Female Face of Solidarity – Polish monodrama about the life of Danuta Wałęsa, performed by Anna Ráckevei (Venue: Csokonai Fórum, Árpád Kóti Hall)

9:25 pm – 9:50 pm – Conversation with Árpád Árkosi and Anna Ráckevei (Venue: Csokonai Fórum, Foyer)

Saturday, 4 October

10:00 am – 6:00 pm – Strong Women – Portrait exhibition by Belgian painter Alma van Win (Venue: Méliusz Juhász Péter Central Library)

11:00 am – 12:30 pm – WOMANEXT Szabó Magda Club – Debrecen Doors, Crossing Boundaries – The meeting of literature and enterprise (Venue: Csokonai Fórum, Simor Ottó Orfeum)

3:00 pm – 3:45 pm – Gradient Contemporary Ballet Debrecen: LÉT(ra) – Open rehearsal (Venue: Csokonai Fórum, Árpád Kóti Hall)

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Csokonai National Theatre Debrecen: Szabó Magda – Zoltán Egressy – Tünde Kardos: Fairy Lala – Musical fairytale (Venue: Csokonai Theatre)

4:00 pm – 4:45 pm – Csokonai National Theatre Debrecen Choir: Interactive choral concert (Venue: Csokonai Fórum, Simor Ottó Orfeum)

5:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Gemstones
7:30 pm – Discussion
Venue: Apolló Cinema

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm – Strong Women – Guided tour of the portrait exhibition by Alma van Win (Venue: Méliusz Juhász Péter Central Library)

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – Budapest Operetta Theatre: Grigori Frid: The Diary of Anne Frank – Mono-opera (Venue: Csokonai Fórum, Zoltán Latinovits Hall)

6:45 pm – 7:30 pm – Conversation with Gyula Pfeiffer and Dalma Süle (Venue: Csokonai Fórum, Foyer)

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Hero and Victim of Her Own Story – Approaches to Szabó Magda’s career history – Book launch and roundtable discussion with signing, centred on Márton Soltész’s new monograph (Venue: Méliusz Juhász Péter Central Library)

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Csokonai National Theatre Debrecen: Szabó Magda – Zoltán Egressy – Tünde Kardos: Fairy Lala – Musical fairytale (Venue: Csokonai Theatre

8:00 pm – 9:15 pm – Klebelsberg Castle Chamber Theatre: Mária Hedry: Shadowed Fate – Drama about the life of Sarolta Botka, wife of Kunó Klebelsberg (Venue: Csokonai Fórum, Árpád Kóti Hall)

9:30 pm – 10:00 pm – Conversation with Mária Hedry and Edit Majzik (Venue: Csokonai Fórum, Foyer)

Sunday, 5 October

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Orlai Production Office: Rita Halász – Deep Breath – Monodrama (recommended for ages 16+; Venue: Csokonai Fórum, Árpád Kóti Hall)

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm – Conversation with Hanna Pálos (Venue: Csokonai Fórum, Foyer)

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm – A Pinch of Transylvania – Legends, Tales, and Flavours – Musical book launch by Katalin Benedekffy (Venue: Csokonai Fórum, Simor Ottó Orfeum)

8:00 pm – 9:15 pm – My Companion Shirley MacLaine – Musical solo performance by Judit Schell (Venue: Csokonai Fórum, Árpád Kóti Hall)

9:30 pm – 10:00 pm – Conversation with Judit Schell (Venue: Csokonai Fórum, Foyer)

8:00 pm – 9:45 pm – Csokonai National Theatre Debrecen: Magda Szabó – That Beautiful, Radiant Day – Historical drama – Premiere performance in honour of Magda Szabó’s birthday (Venue: Csokonai Theatre, Lower Stage – beneath the revolving main stage)

Source and photo credit:debrecen.hu