Striking a dramatic pose on the Danube's east bank, this theatre complex promises fun on and off the stage.
Flamboyant and quirky, the premises of the National Theatre have been a prominent landmark of the southern Pest, ever since they opened their doors in 2002. Shaped like the prow of an elegant cruise ship slicing though the eastern bank of the Danube, the playfulness of its design shines through – especially in the statues and monuments scattered around. A jester stands guard at the entrance, the garden gates are shaped like the opening of the stage's curtains, and the garden itself is home to both a ziggurat and a maze.All this makes for a fantastic home for Hungary's pre-eminent venue for drama – and also a very welcome one. The National Theatre Company spent nearly 50 years of its 160-year life wandering from venue to venue, after its neoclassical home on Blaha Lujza square was demolished in 1963. Now its new home is a major attraction, despite its rather remote location. In part that's for its fine dramatic reputation. And in part because of the wonderfully bizarre building.The National Theatre's outside is worth a wander around for closer inspection. Tastefully sculpted in mirrored glass and clean white columns, the 'prow' actually breaks over a shallow pond. Look into it, and you'll see a replica of the grand façade of the old National Theatre, submerged beneath the waters. Above the entrance, its columns are clung to by nine golden-haired muses, striking various dramatic poses.Inside the theatre is equally striking – a great circular wall of glass on the outside, the auditorium inside is a square, filled with golden-hued geometry. The 'boxes' are literally boxes, and the stall seating is simple and sparse – leaving all focus for the stage. That edgy modernism matches the productions played out here. Contemporary plays and provocative themes are the staple, with music performances of all genres – from jazz to opera – taking place in the nearby Hall of Arts.
