Katona József National Theatre celebrates 130th anniversary

The Katona József National Theatre in Kecskemét is celebrating its 130th anniversary with a series of cultural events. The celebrations coincide with the 100th anniversary of A. A. Milne’s classic Winnie-the-Pooh, which was first published on October 14, 1926.

To mark these milestones, the theatre staged a production based on the original Winnie-the-Pooh stories. Director Péter Cseke emphasized the importance of engaging younger generations to ensure the theatre's future. The production, designed by scenographer Anna Molnár, utilized a stage set shaped like a large open storybook to convey themes of friendship, solidarity, and the value of reading.

Additional anniversary festivities included a folk music program titled ‘Amit örökül kaptunk’ (What We Inherited). The event featured performers such as Júlia Szegvári, Balázs Koltai-Nagy, Máté Hegedűs, and Márton Rigó. The program combined emotional musical performances with personal stories regarding cultural heritage, concluding with communal singing and a traditional dance house where the audience participated on stage.