Re-enactment of societal activities in Hungary, with musical performances and recited political speeches that surround the absurd exploitation of acacia, an indigenous American tree that became a national and political symbol in Hungary.
Hungarian Acacia, Hungary. Directed by: Kristof Kelemen, Bence Gyorgy Palinkas. Performed by: Angela Eke, Katalin Homonnai, Kristof Kelemen, Marton Kristof, Bence Gyorgy Palinkas.
The acacia, an indigenous American tree appropriated as a national symbol in Hungary, has become a subject of contemporary debates concerning politicians’ branding of the tree and distortion of environmental facts. The absurd exploitation of a plant for political means drove Kristof Kelemen and Bence Gyorgy Palinkas to launch a movement aimed at rebranding the acacia into a symbol of an inclusive society. Planting events took place at nationally significant locations in order to promote liberal ideals of a community.
Hungarian Acacia received the Critics Prize at the Theatre Festival Szeged, Hungary (2018).
Free and open to the public. Online registration through Eventbrite is required. Wearing of a face mask inside the venue is required.
The 2022 Rehearsal for Truth Theater Festival is dedicated to the people of Ukraine fighting for their independence. 🇺🇦 Suggested donation ($10) will be used to support Ukrainian refugees. All collected funds will be donated to People in Need, a Czech non-governmental, non-profit organization with over 20 years of experience in helping people in emergencies all over the world.
For more information about this reading and the 2022 Rehearsal for Truth Theater Festival program, visit www.rehearsalfortruth.org.
Project partners: Trafo House of Contemporary Arts, FUGE Productions – Independently Together, Workshop Foundation Budapest, Ministry of Human Capacities, National Cultural Fund, Juranyi Incubator House.
ABOUT THE 2022 REHEARSAL FOR TRUTH THEATER FESTIVAL
The 2022 Rehearsal for Truth Theater Festival: Under Pressure is organized by the Vaclav Havel Library Foundation and the Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association in partnership with the Polish Cultural Institute New York, GOH Productions, Czech National Trust, Terezin Music Foundation, Trap Door Theatre, and Yara Arts Group.
The festival is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York, Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, Ministry of Human Capacities, Hungary, and Society for the History of Czechoslovak Jews.