A new theater opens in Budapest
The rich theatrical life of Budapest has been enriched by another exciting venue: the Bástya Theatre. The 90-seat studio theater, which opened in February 2025, is located in the VII. district, on Erzsébet Boulevard, in the building of the former Bástya cinema. The theater’s goal is to enrich the capital’s cultural offerings with fresh performances and diverse genres.
The unique atmosphere and intimacy of the Bástya Theatre immediately captivates the viewer. It is a characteristic of studio theaters that the distance between the audience and the actors is minimal, so the plays have a much more direct and intense effect on the audience. In the case of the Bástya Theatre, this proximity is further enhanced by the fact that the building previously functioned as a cinema, which gives the space a special, nostalgic atmosphere.
The repertoire of the theater is very diverse, including new premieres, already successful productions, as well as special poetry and concert theater evenings. The management of the Bástya Theatre is committed to providing viewers with a high-quality and varied theatrical experience, so they place great emphasis on the selection of plays and the composition of the cast.
The theater’s first premiere was a stage adaptation of Katy Brand’s film “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande”, directed by Tamás Keresztes. The main roles were played by Dorottya Udvaros and Balázs Medveczky, who with their great performances laid a worthy foundation for the future of the theater. “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande” is a humorous yet deeply human story about the strange relationship between an aging widow and a young prostitute. The play was not only well received by the audience, but also by critics, so the Bástya Theatre has already gained considerable attention in the domestic theater scene.
However, the Bástya Theatre not only welcomes audiences with its own productions, but also with accepted productions. The theater’s management is open to any initiative that can provide viewers with a valuable and high-quality theatrical experience. Thanks to this, representatives of the most diverse genres appear in the Bástya Theatre, from drama to comedy, from musical to poetry theater.
The Bástya Theatre is not just another theater venue in Budapest, but a cultural space that actively participates in the city’s intellectual life. The theater regularly organizes discussions, audience meetings and other programs that allow viewers to get to know the world of theater and the creators of the plays better. In addition, the Bástya Theatre also plays an important role in supporting young talents, as it often hosts performances created by novice or lesser-known artists.
In its short existence, the Bástya Theatre has already proven that it has a right to exist on the Budapest theater palette. The unique atmosphere of the theater, its varied repertoire and its commitment to a high-quality theatrical experience are a guarantee that it will continue to bring joy to the audience in the future. The Bástya Theatre is not just another theater, but a place where the love of theater and the desire for culture meet, and where audiences and actors can experience the magic of theater together.