1988. július (161-183. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
1\ 6ARIAN (§) OCTOBEJW ,j fcee'Sía @SÉm£ Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street * London. WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126) 162/1988 (E) 8th July, 1988 Jurta Theatre is Threatened with Bankruptcy Proceedings "Bankruptcy proceedings are initiated against the Jurta Theatre" - reports Magyar Nemzet ("Hungárián Nation") in today’s edition, July 8th on page 6. This news alar- med those who are anxious about Hungárián culture and those who follow the demo- cratic movements, although it is public knowledge that when political pressure failed the Jurta Theatre - perhaps in the spirit of the new economic mechanism - vas strangled by financial means and one month ago the amplifiers which are absolutely crucial fór performances were confiscated by the executors. The Magyar Nemzet court report does nőt tally with title of the article as it appears that yesterday the Supreme Court accepted the Theatre*s legal protest, decided that the June con- fiscation vas unlawful and overruled the earlier decree by the Budapest Central District Court. Only the last sentence of the article - without mentioning its sources - refers to "bankruptcy proceedings which will soon be initiated" against the Jurta Theatre. / The actors Éva Ruttkay and Ferenc Bessenyei were among the founding members of the Theatre. The company held its first performances in the Kossuth Club and in the Almássy Square Leisure Centre, somé of which went to the 1984 March Spring Festival, an exhibition of Tibor Szervátiusz’s work in the National Gallery, who has settled in Hungary from Transylvania, and a six-day lecture series on Hungárián conscious- ness in the Kossuth Club (this was opened by Sándor Csoóri, and well-known historians, writers and actors could debate publicly fór the first time the serious situation of the Transylvanian Hungarians). The Jurta Theatre was banned from performance sites so the company went on tour and in 1985 they decided to build their own theatre. On April 15th 1987 the Jurta Theatre opened in the Peoples Park beside the Planetárium. Last year the Jurta Theatre presented József Ratkó’s play "Help the Kingl" about St. Stophen and Sándor Weöres*s "The Two-headed Beast", this year they staged József Nyiro’s "The Jesus Carver Mán" and Ferenc Herczeg’s "Byzantium", plays by András Sütő and Géza Paskandi, a commemoration of Áron Márton an ex-bishop from Gyulafehérvár who was persecuted and imprisoned and Ildikó Sólyom*s documentary drama entitled "Could it Happen?" about the show trials and her father*s fate. Now - as they are still on tour - they staged a passión play in the Pécs Open Air Theatre which has had no mention in the official press. However the reason fór the authorities* anger is that the Jurta Theatre gave space to the democratic, independent movements’ meetings which were nőt permitted elsewhere. A month ago an offer was made to the Jurta from high places that their financial difficulties would be straightened out if they closed their doors to the democratiic movements* meeting*. The Theatre said "no". The "Hungárián October Freepress" in London transferred 50 000 Forints worth of cur- rency to the Jurta Theatre*s account through the Hungárián National Bank, it was mar- - ked "Let us Savé the Jurta Theatreí". JL Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged.
