'The story of Legacy takes place in a region that has a large number of Roma citizens. Also, it is considered to be a region that is lacking in vision. After his mother’s death, the young paediatrician returns home to manage the inheritance. But he is confronted with the fact that, in addition to his feelings for his late mother, he also has to deal with the heritage of the Hungarian countryside that awaits to be healed. This performance is the first stage work of the young film director, Mihály Schwechtje. In accord with his films, he is both the author and director of the show. This rarely happens in Hungarian theatre. The story, which Schwechtje has used before when making a short film, is based on true events. Quoting the performance’s dramaturge ‘The play warns readers and viewers that the common story of Hungarian Gypsies and non-Gypsy Hungarians is distorted by the narratives of victim blaming and shifting responsibility. Thirty years of freedom has not been enough to conceive new forms of cohabitation.’ The tragic story of the play tells us about how the Hungarian Roma population is forced to sell their children en masse in an area of Hungary, which is most affected by unemployment. The performance dances on the razor’s edge. The creators have decided to tell this shocking story at a time, when, in Hungary, the governing party is urging the reckoning of political correctness. This is the same party that has been inciting society to rebel against refugees and various minorities.' Noémi Herczog, curator

CREDITS

Cast: Júlia Mentes/Katalin Gergely, Gusztáv Molnár, Csaba Polgár, Bertalan Kadét, Katalin Szeles/Abigél Dömötör

Dramaturg: Gábor Németh
Costume and Design: Mária Torma
Light and sound: József Nagy, Ádám Langó
Production assistant: Katinka Bordás
Production manager: Dóra Gulyás, Genovéva Petrovits
Directed by Mihály Schwechtje
 

REVIEWS

“The Heritage – a stomach cramp that takes an hour and a half to develop and stays with you for much longer. It is a consistent, professional, powerful, emotional and spine-chilling glimpse into a place where nobody likes to take a glimpse into, because it’s better not to see. It is exactly glimpses and stomach cramps of this kind that make it worthwhile to create theatre.” Bálint Kovács, index.hu

“I see The Heritage as a remarkable and fresh performance. Mihály Schwechtje sets his own piece on stage using a good rhythm and skillfully utilizes the possibilities of the simple space. He talks about a crucial issue, holds our attention and engages us in a debate. These are three important arguments in favour of the performance.” Lilla Turbuly, szinhaz.net

Mihály Schwechtje

...is mainly known as a filmmaker. His short films and his first feature film have received several awards. Thanks to his own theatre piece, which was premiered in the Jurányi House in February 2019, he is now also ranked amongst the contemporary theater auteurs. In his plays Schwechtje is treating contemporary social problems. His characters are mainly victims of modern society. His first own theater play, The Legacy, has been critically acclaimed. After this success, Schwechtje has been invited to the prestigious Radnóti Theater to direct another one of his own plays.

SUPPORTERS

National Culture Fund, FÜGE Production

CONTACT

Dóra Gulyás, Genovéva Petrovits
fuge.dora@gmail.com, petrovits@gmail.com
+36.70.443.0211, +36.20.501.5531