The Merry Stage Is it a cinema or a theater?

The Merry Stage (Vidám Színpad) is one of Budapest’s most popular theaters, but it is not located in a traditional theater building. Since 1951, the company has been performing its shows in a modern cinema hall on the cinema level of a major shopping mall in Budapest.

Instead of the usual theater seats, the audience is welcomed by modern armchairs reminiscent of spaceships. The stage was built on the site of the former movie screen, so all parts of the stage are clearly visible from the seats. The armchairs are comfortable, so you don’t have to fidget during a longer performance.

The company of Anna Götz and László Akerl is made up of experienced actors and actresses known to the audience, as well as young talents. The members of the company pay worthy tribute to their predecessors, among whom we find legendary actors such as Zoltán Latinovits, Dezső Garas, Gábor Agárdy, Hilda Gobbi, Ildikó Pécsi and Géza Hofi.

The repertoire of the Merry Stage faithfully reflects the company’s 70-year tradition. It offers high-quality entertainment to its audience by presenting light-hearted musical comedies and thought-provoking plays that deal with human problems.

Currently playing

Embrace Me!: A romantic comedy about love affairs and the search for happiness.
Save Me, Love!: A cheerful comedy about the power of love and the difficulties of marriage.
Perfect Wedding!: A farce about a wedding catastrophe and finding happiness in chaos.
The 39 Steps: An exciting thriller about a secret mission and love.
A Study of Women: A comedy about the eternal battle between men and women.
The Adventures of Süsü the Dragon: A children’s play about a dragon who is the messenger of peace and love.

The Merry Stage was founded in 1951 under the direction of director Péter Gál. The company’s aim was to revive the cabaret and comedy genres. In the early years, the company was based in the Folies Caprice, which was built as a nightclub, but they soon outgrew the space.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the Merry Stage became one of the leading workshops of Hungarian theatrical life. With their social criticism and humor, the company’s performances soon acquired cult status.

After the regime change, the Merry Stage adapted to the market conditions and transformed itself. The repertoire continued to focus on comedies and musicals, but alongside classical works, plays by contemporary authors also appeared on the program.

The mission of the Merry Stage is to entertain and make the audience think about the world. The members of the company are committed to quality theater culture and strive to provide a memorable experience for the audience at every performance.

For more information about the program, ticket purchase and the theater, please visit the website of the Merry Stage: https://vidamszinpad.hu