Debrecen4U September 4, 2025

The theater hall of the University of Debrecen shines in a new guise

The largest lecture hall of the University of Debrecen, the theater hall that also houses the oDEon Theater on the Böszörményi Road campus, has been renovated. The completely renovated hall was presented at a press conference on Wednesday.

The theater hall of the Böszörményi út campus of the University of Debrecen was built between 1962 and 1964 together with the dormitory building complex, which already functioned as a multi-functional space and auditorium. The former Agrár cinema building has been continuously developed by the University of Debrecen in recent years. Most recently, a 60-square-meter LED wall was installed in the room in 2022.

“During the renovation, the auditorium was completely renovated, 344 custom-made chairs were installed in accordance with the educational and theatrical function of the hall, the wall covering was renovated, the entire soundproofing and floor carpet were replaced, and the stage was given a new, special covering. As part of the modernization, the stage technology center was relocated, which was located in the old cinema equipment room, was relocated,” Zoltán Bács listed the details of the renovation.

The Chancellor of the University of Debrecen said that the largest and most expensive part of the renovation is the purchase and installation of new lighting and sound equipment, which is still in progress, and added that the approximately HUF 225 million cost of the renovation of the lecture and theater hall was financed entirely from the institution’s own resources.

“This hall is not just a collection of walls and chairs but a community space where students, partners, and lecturers meet at various events, lectures, workshops, celebrations, and conferences, and in 2019, after a renovation and transformation, the oDEon Theatre also found its home here. The oldest student event of the University of Debrecen with a long tradition, the two important events of “Yellowing” (symbolizing the ripening of wheat and metaphorically the students’ maturation as they finish their studies) — the Students’ Evening and the Teachers’ Evening—have also been held in this theatre hall for decades,” Veronika Fenyves added.

The Dean of the Faculty of Economics believes that the renovation not only means a renewal of the lecture and theatre hall in terms of comfort, but also an opportunity to organize theatre performances, university classes, workshops, conferences, and events in a new, modern, inspiring environment.

Source and photo credit:dehir.hu