Independent Theater Hungary

Who laughs last
2026-04-26 19:00 - 20:00 (Europe/Budapest) | Füszi, Páva u. 30, Budapest, Hungary
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Füszi’s very first stand-up night!
Roma and non-Roma girls on the same stage – hard-hitting stories, dangerous honesty, and four harmless women.
Women doing stand-up? Of course! Budapest has never seen performers this brave and outspoken.
If you’ve never been to a stand-up show, this is the time.If you have, this night will take it to the next level – don’t be fooled by the stairs leading down to the stage.

8th Roma Heroes – International Theater Festival Giuvlipen Theater Company: Get Up, Roma!
2026-05-05 19:00 | Eötvös10, Budapest, Eötvös u. 10, Budapest, 1067, Hungary, 1067
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In the Romanian Giuvlipen’s performance, humor becomes a tool of resistance and a platform for self-expression, cultural pride, and political commentary. It is a celebration of the diversity of identities, questioning the ruling order, and a call to rethink who gets to tell the joke and who has been the target of jokes for too long. This kind of humor is not for the weak. The experienced audience knows that this Romanian group has never been known for being subtle or compromising. Why would their stand-up night be any different? The jokes hit hard, they offend, but they also liberate, while helping you rise above. Come and experience it with us!

Cast: Zita Moldovan, Anastasia Dade, Răzvan Rotaru, Mihaela Drăgan
Runtime: 100 mins (no intermission)

8th Roma Heroes – International Theater Festival - 8th Roma Heroes – International Theater Festival
2026-05-06 19:00 | Eötvös10, Budapest, Eötvös u. 10, Budapest, 1067, Hungary, 1067
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The winning project of the Stand Up Roma contest organized by Trafó and Independent Theater Hungary.

A performance that lies somewhere between stand-up comedy and monodrama, in which an actor uses his own stories to show how stage characters are constructed. The scenes are both playful and thought-provoking, shedding light on how we see each other and what we project onto others.

Don’t you think it’s funny when they call you a gypsy in the morning and a skinhead in the evening?

8th Roma Heroes – International Theater Festival - Giuvlipen Theater Company (Romania) – Mihaela & Nico Rap Concert // Freestyle Arena – where rap meets the “here and now”
2026-05-06 21:00 - 22:00 | Eötvös10, Budapest, Eötvös u. 10, Budapest, 1067, Hungary, 1067
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Performers

Mihaela & Nico Rap: Nicoleta Ghiță, Mihaela Drăgan
Freestyle Aréna – where rap meets the “here and now”: Lakatos Lucia, Merina C Abigail, Kálódzséró, Hassza, Beatbull

About

Mihaela & Nico Rap:
The concert weaves together the personal and the political, reflecting on the lived experiences of contemporary Roma women. The songs function both as a mirror and a lighthouse: they shed light on the realities of patriarchal violence, capitalism, and racism that shape everyday life, while also offering visionary narratives of resistance and liberation.
Freestyle Arena – where rap meets the “here and now”
This is a live event. It’s not a concert. Five MCs take the stage to show you what it’s brilliant like when rap is born right in front of your eyes, not scripted in advance.
No script, no safety net. The audience provides the topic—we react instantly.
We throw lines at each other, build off each other, and carry each other forward. The flow goes round and round, the energy builds, and each round takes us in a different direction. What’s said here is unique and unrepeatable. Raw energy, humor, jabs, thoughts, intellect—everything is welcome. Rap returns to where it came from: to the people.
If you’ve got a word, a topic, or just a feeling — throw it in. We’ll show you what freestyle can do with it.

8th Roma Heroes – International Theater Festival - Forgács Rudi (HU) feat. Said Dániel: Gipsy, but cool
2026-05-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Eötvös10, Budapest, Eötvös u. 10, Budapest, 1067, Hungary, 1067
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Eötvös10 Művelődési Ház, Pilinszky János Kamaraterem
1067 Budapest, Eötvös u. 10

Winner of the Stand Up Roma competition by Trafó and Independent Theater Hungary.

Everyone has heard—and perhaps even said—about someone that “he’s Gypsy, but cool!” Rudi has heard it too. About himself. These three words, meant as a compliment, hold surprisingly deep implications on both a personal and social level. What impact do these three words have? What does it take to overcome our prejudices, and can we ever fully overcome them?

Performers: Rudolf Forgács, Dániel SaidRuntime: 70 mins (no intermission)

The festival is co-funded by the European Union.

8th Roma Heroes – International Theater Festival- Horváth Kristóf (HU) Cigyar Solitude
2026-05-07 20:00 - 21:00 | Eötvös10, Budapest, Eötvös u. 10, Budapest, 1067, Hungary, 1067
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Performer

Kristóf Horváth

About

Winner of the Stand Up Roma competition by Trafó and Independent Theater Hungary.
Kristóf Horváth, known to many as “Actor Bob,” explores the social and personal aspects of shame in his stand-up performance. It is both entertaining and deeply confrontational: using humor and irony, he calls out typical situations that reveal the insecurities and fears behind social prejudices. A “Gypsy Window-Giraffe”—an easily understandable dictionary for coexistence, where the Roma perspective is not the goal, but a tool for a shared journey of self-discovery.
Runtime: 80 mins (no intermission)

8th Roma Heroes – International Theater Festival - Béla Váradi (GB) I Didn’t Mean to Be a Minority Today
2026-05-08 18:00 - 19:00 | Hungary
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The performance is a live process unfolding in time, exploring through personal stories, images, and presence what it means to be visible.
Fragmented visual and sonic materials from my previous works appear within the space, constructing not a linear narrative, but rather a layering of experiences—resting on the threshold between presence and absence.
During the performance, I work and create within the space: the process itself becomes visible, rather than a pre-fixed form. I am not playing a role; I am simply present.
The emphasis is not on representation, but on connection: that subtle, often elusive space where personal experience meets the viewer’s attention.” – Béla Váradi
The project is being assisted by first-year students of the MKE’s curatorial studies program.
The festival is co-funded by the European Union.

8th Roma Heroes – International Theater Festival - Riah Knight (GE): Lie with me
2026-05-08 20:00 - 21:30 | Hungary
Tickets
Pinceszínház, Színházterem
1093 Budapest, Török Pál S. 3.
Artists

Director: Katharina Stoll
Performer: Riah Knight

About

Riah desires to be loved. To be loved by a man. Riah lies in bed and fantasizes. Her fantasies are wet, steamy, sensual, hopeful, and discouraging all at once. As she fantasizes, Adam and Lilith, Jesus, and many others from the Bible come to her mind. All this sexual energy makes it hard to breathe. Would you get into bed with Riah if she asked you to?
A performance by Riah Knight, a British Traveller artist living and working in Germany, combines theater, music, and activism.
A production by Glossy Pain and Berlin TD Theatre.
Warning: The performance is sexually explicit and deals with religion in a provocative manner. Recommended for ages 16 and up.
Runtime: 50 mins (no intermission)

8th Roma Heroes – International Theater Festival - Rampa Prenestina (IT) Identita Incerte
2026-05-09 18:00 - 19:00 | Hungary
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Pinceszínház, Színházterem
1093 Budapest, Török Pál S. 3.

Artists

Cast: Gemila Durmis, Mattia Alberghetti, Erik Nikolic, Sasha Serio, Giulia Massimini, Nedzad Husovic
Artistic Direction: Giulia Massimini, és Sebastian Spinella

About

“Hi! Where are you from?
Are you Bosnian? Serbian? Macedonian? Ukrainian?
I don’t know… maybe… I think I’m Italian.
Are you Roma? … Roman!”Stand-up comedy from here and there, from the suburbs and everywhere.
If you feel like a strange creature, come check us out!

8th Roma Heroes – International Theater Festival - Independent Theater Hungary (HU) Who laughs last?
2026-05-09 20:00 - 21:30 | Hungary
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Pinceszínház, Színházterem
1093 Budapest, Török Pál S. 3.

Performers

Cast: Balogh Orsolya, Farkas Ramóna, Lakatos Lucia, Merina Camacho AbigailKözreműködők: Bogya Tímea Éva, Dömök Edina, Boda-Novy Emília

About

Stand-up is mainly a male genre—but what are we to do when the girls of Independent Theater Hungary are tougher than anyone else? Four “harmless” chicks set the stage on fire as they win over every heart with playful ease and leave every abdominal muscle aching. Once they open their mouths and the words start pouring out, we might just have to rethink the concept of harmlessness.
Performers: Balogh Orsolya, Farkas Ramóna, Lakatos Lucia és Merina C. Abigail
Runtime: 80 mins (no intermission)

8th Roma Heroes – International Theater Festival - Solo concert by Riah Knight
2026-05-09 22:00 - 23:00 | Hungary
The 8th Roma Heroes Festival will come to an end with a solo concert by actor, singer and songwriter Riah Knight. During the concert, the Hungarian audience will be entertained by both her previous works and her new composition.
Known for blending R&B, folk, trip-hop, and performance poetry in her music, her concert at Roma Heros finds her in quieter territory — layered, acoustic, and unhurried. Her vocals, characterised by evocative lyrics and a laid-back, sultry delivery, take on something more expansive when looped; folky and a little otherworldly, drawing on the Indian concept of the drone — a sustained, meditative foundation from which melody finds its shape.
An artist photo for the concert: photo credit Odelia Toder / Edit Riah Knight

Jasmine and the Squirrel - FREE ENTRY - Puppet Theater
2026-05-17 11:00 - 12:00 | Füszi, Páva u. 30, Budapest, Hungary
Registration
The show is free, but registration is required!
Location: Füszi, Páva Street 30, 1094, Budapest
Jasmine, a young Roma girl, lives in Helsinki with her grandmother, who once camethere as an evacuee from Karelia. Jasmine spends her childhood with hergrandmother, but also in Sweden and at a boarding school. Life is full of challenges– school feels foreign, she faces prejudice, and feels different. But one day, aguitar is placed in her arms, and through it she finds her strength, her voice, and asense of belonging.
Through perseverance, courage, and passion, she moves forward step by step – allthe way to the Eurovision Song Contest, where she represents Finland on stage.
“Jasmine and the Squirrel” is the story of a brave Roma girl’s journey to becoming a star musician, of a sassy squirrel, and a grandmother who’s a master at crocheting. It’s a story about daring to be yourself and following your dreams!
On stage, we see Jasmine herself sharing her story. She is joined by actor Riina Tikkanen, who brings life into Elina Sarno’s charismatic puppets.
For whom:
whom: Recommended age from 4 years with an adult, from 5 years in a schoolgroup. The performance is aimed at families with children, as well as preschool andprimary school pupils aged 5–9 and their educators.
Durration: 40 min.
Direction and puppets: Elina Sarno
Musician: Jasmine Valentin
Puppeteer: Riina Tikkanen
Script: The working group, based on the story by Jasmine Valentin and Milena
ParlandProduction: Ad Astra r.f.Language: FinnishPhoto: Andre Scherbakov
The performance is in Finnish, with simultaneous Hungarian interpretation.
Photo: Andre Scherbakov

The Top of the Breadfruit Tree
2026-05-28 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-29 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-30 19:00 - 20:00 | Füszi, Páva u. 30, Budapest, Hungary
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Writer: Rodrigó Balogh and Márton Illés
Dramaturg: Laura Pamlényi
Music: Dávid Varga and István Babindák
Lighting design and technique: Ferenc Nagy
Cast: Emilia Boda-Novy, Ramóna Farkas, Nóra Nemcsók
Director: Rodrigó Balogh

Short description
This one stayed home and then went far away.
This one dreamed of a prince, who was eventually eaten by a wolf.
This little one cleaned up nicely.
A roller coaster for three voices.
Szilvi, Kriszti and Viki are looking for their own path in the dense forest of adulthood.
In the midst of successes and failures, and changes of direction, the biggest challenge is not reaching the finish line, but avoiding losing ourselves and each other.
The Top of the Breadfruit Tree is a heartbreakingly funny coming-of-age story about togetherness, distance, re-planning and the invisible rubber band that pulls us back into our shared past even when we thought we had moved on.
Where do we end up when we leave everything behind?
And what remains of us?

Prikézsia,or Pancu and the Traditions from Birth to Rebirth
2026-06-07 18:00 - 19:00 | Füszi, Páva u. 30, Budapest, Hungary
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Prikézsia (also prikezsia, prikezhija) is a Romani word meaning: misfortune, accident, curse.

During the creation of this performance, we explored our relationship to tradition. Our focus turned toward the gap between generations, with special attention to the expectations piled upon us—sometimes seemingly unnecessary ones.

An unavoidable topic was Pancu. At times we had blood-boiling debates about how he got there at all, and what he was even doing there. Should we lift him up? High into the air. Would that still shock anyone? Or should we rather crawl inside him? We thought a great deal about this during the interdisciplinary creative process.

Then Pancu began to tell stories. He just kept talking and talking. He told us. In writing, this would be far too long.

Let’s meet! Allow us to guide you along this adventurous path we built from ourselves. Come!

Now, come on, give me a kiss! (smack)

And be sure to come—otherwise you’ll bring prikézsia upon us!

The creation of this performance was supported by the European Union.

Disrupters of a Regime
2026-06-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Füszi, Páva u. 30, Budapest, Hungary
Tickets
Sándor wants to be a free filmmaker, but the Eastern European dictatorship he lives in has other plans for him. The state determines his professional work and social relationships, and even intrudes into his bedroom.

How can a filmmaker become truly successful in an age of socialism with its watchful eyes? The System Breakers doesn’t mince words: this story is about oppression, freedom, and those who don’t want to be losers in a dictatorship.

Caution! The System Destroyers lecture contributes in some way to expanding our historical knowledge. Don’t worry, this story won’t be in the textbooks either. But it is necessary so that we can face our common past, our present, and move forward. The people and events in the performance are fictional, but a significant portion of the stories presented actually happened. The birth of the show was inspired by real people whose struggles deserve respect.

Written by Rodrigó Balogh, Márton Illés
Director: Rodrigó Balogh
Played by Dávid Csányi, Krisztina Fenyvesi, András Tamás Szegedi
Dramaturg: Tímea Éva Bogya
Assistant director: Lucia Lakatos
Music: Varga Dávid
Lightning designer: Ferenc Nagy
Technic: Szegedi Szilárd
Hungarian-Romanian translation by Géza Buzás-Hábel
Hungarian-German proofreading by Ádám Gagyi

The performance deals openly with sexuality. Viewing it is not recommended for those under the age of 18 according to Hungarian law.

Roma Holocaust and Beyond – Ways of Hate and Humanity - ONLINE PREMIER
2026-06-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Hungary
We are pleased to invite you to the online premiere of Roma Holocaust and Beyond – Ways of Hate and Humanity, a documentary exploring one of the least known chapters of European history – the Roma Holocaust (Samudaripen).

The documentary brings together personal testimonies, family memories and expert perspectives to shed light on the persecution of Roma communities during the Second World War and the devastating consequences of hatred, discrimination and exclusion. At the same time, it highlights stories of resilience, solidarity and humanity that continue to resonate today.

Date: 23 June 2026
Time: 19:00 (CET)
Format: Online
Participation: Free of charge

Registration: https://luma.com/tc38odlt

Tarts velünk ezen a különleges európai premiervetítésen!

Project Title: ROMDIEM – Illuminating the Forgotten Stories of the Roma Holocaust
Grant Agreement No.: 101196127

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Top of the bread tree
2026-06-29 19:00 - 22:00, 2026-06-30 19:00 - 22:00 | Füszi, Páva u. 30, Budapest, Hungary
Tickets
Szilvi, Kriszti and Viki are looking for their own path in the dense forest of adulthood.
In the midst of successes and failures, and changes of direction, the biggest challenge is not reaching the finish line, but avoiding losing ourselves and each other.
The Top of the Breadfruit Tree is a heartbreakingly funny coming-of-age story about togetherness, distance, re-planning and the invisible rubber band that pulls us back into our shared past even when we thought we had moved on.
Where do we end up when we leave everything behind?
