1988. október (246-270. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
LÍÍjP(3)eíS“4a^Q @ÉK Editor: György Krassó » 24/D Little Russell Street * London, WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (from abroad 441-430 2126) 257/1988 (E) 17th October, 1988 Harassment of the Jurta Theatre Continues The Jurta Theatre which is the only theatre company in Hungary to operate as a small co-operative and which was built independently, from its own resources, only opened in April of last year yet it has become "one of the new symbols of a democratically developing Hungary" - thus it is described in an article in Magyar Nemzet (Hungárián Nation) on July 30th, The Jurta Theatre apart from resurrecting Hungárián plays which have long been forgottén has given space to all the significant independent movements - the Hungárián Democratic Fórum, the Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Friendship Society, the YDA, the Scientific Workers Democratic Union, the Rakpart Club and the Network fór Free Initiatives. The theatre although it is threatened with bankruptcy proceedings and is continuously attacked has nőt changed its policy fór the autumn: the Young Democrats Alliance’s Congress was recently held here as was a György Faludy performance evening, on October 21st the Recsk Alliance will hold a meeting here, on the evening of October 23rd a commemoration of the 1956 revolution has been advertised, on November 12th the first congress of the newly formed National Boy Scout Association will take piacé, then the Network’s public meeting, the founding meeting of the Transylvanian Artisans Group and the All Hungárián Bodyj the Young Democrats Alliance alsó wants to continue its congress here. The theatre is incumbered with a 25 millión forint debt because of withdrawal of previously guaranteed state support and additional charges accrued during construction due to external reasons. If it does nőt récéivé aid from Hungárián society or from Hungárián emigrés its days are numbered. Further harassment is probable because of the commemoration of the revolution. In June bailiffs took away the amplification sytem, although somé of it was returned in September, however on Friday the theatre received a notice from the Electricity Board saying that it will disconnect its electricity supply. The Trade Union Social Insurance Gentre recently asked to examine documents which are four or five years old, when this was done they asked the institute to pay two half millión forint fines because of form filling mistakes in 1983 and 8-4. The manager of the theatre László' Romhányi has been fined five times already fór contravening fire and other regulations, 35 thousand forints have been docked off his wages. The X. district Council has now commuted a three thousand forint fine from last year to thirty days imprisonment. Romhányi is due to serve his sentence on October 28th in Baracska. This decision is extraordinary considering that Romhányi paid the fine to the X. district Council’s Executive Committee Administration Department on May 9th. He wrote a letter to the Administration Department and to the Council President bút no reply has been received. The lfSec retariat formed to savé the Jurta Theatre" has turnéd to Hungarians both inside and outsidé Hungary fór help and financial aid. Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged.
