The light behind the shadow - Caravaggio's biography on the Hungarian Theatre's stage
The light behind the shadow - Caravaggio's biography on the Hungarian Theatre's stage
The Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre in Timișoara is preparing its third premiere of the 2022/2023 season for October 21st – „Caravaggio”, directed by Visky Andrej, text written by Visky András. Even though it is not an usual biographical piece, "Caravaggio” can reveal key-events from the life and work of the 16th century painter who redefined the chiaroscuro.
The performance explores the working method of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, who refused to make sketches amd painted its characters in unconventional situations, considered to be anti-Christian at the time. Just like a theatre director, Caravaggio was especially meticulous with positioning and guiding his models in order to create the ideal painting. The young theatre director Visky Andrej chose to underline the painter's interior turmoil, from early age as an orphan, later to being absorbed in vice and difficult temperament - but very succesfful in painting for aristocrats and the Catholic Church alike. "Life is more dramatic than theatre” for Caravaggio, whose life mirrors the restless age in which he lived, and his dramatic death is a culmination of life between two extremes - light and darkness.
The leading part will be played by Balázs Attila, accompanied by fellow-actors Erdős Bálint, Jancsó Előd, Kocsárdi Levente, Bandi András Zsolt, Vajda Boróka, Borbély B. Emília and Vadász Bernadett. The set design belongs to Luminaxis Studio, costumes were created by Csegöldi Erika, while the music was composed by Visky Péter. The author of choreographic sequences is Szekrényes László from the M Studio contemporary dance company.
Visky András, the author of the play "Caravaggio Terminal”, is one of the most prolific Hungarian playwrights and the artistic director of the Hungarian State Theatre in Cluj-Napoca for more than 20 years. The opening on Oct. 21st will be precededed by a book launch in the theatre's foyer, starting at 6 pm – „Kitelepítés” („Deportation”) by Visky András, a memoir of his childhood during the deportation in Baragan.
The performance has English surtitles. Tickets for the opening night (30 lei) and the second performance on Oct 22nd (24/16 lei) can be purchased at the theatre during working hours 10 am -1 pm and 4 pm - 7 pm or online https://www.tm-t.ro/tickets
