The First Half-Century of the Théâtre du Soleil and Two Special Guests – Book Launch in the SZFE Books Series
The SZFE Books series is once again enriched with a significant volume. Its mission is to make essential theatrical and film works available in Hungarian, works that are indispensable to contemporary artistic discourse. The newest addition is French theatre historian Béatrice Picon-Vallin’s book: Théâtre du Soleil – The First Half-Century of Ariane Mnouchkine’s Sun Theatre. The launch will take place on September 29 at the Doctoral School of SZFE.
The event will feature the book’s author, Béatrice Picon-Vallin, one of the leading figures of international theatre studies, as well as Zsófia Rideg, the Hungarian translator and dramaturg. The discussion will be moderated by Prof. Dr. Enikő Sepsi, while the Hungarian edition has been made possible thanks to the careful editorial work of Judit Helfrich and the support of L’Harmattan Publishing.
What makes the book remarkable is its rich photographic material, presenting more than five decades of the Théâtre du Soleil founded by Ariane Mnouchkine. Since the second half of the 20th century, this theatre collective has played a defining role on the global stage: its social sensitivity, collective creative methods, and international impact have earned it the name “Sun Theatre.” First published in France in 2014, the book won the prestigious award for Best Book on Theatre in 2015. Now, ten years later, Hungarian readers will also have the opportunity to hold this milestone in theatre history in their hands.
The launch will also welcome two special guests, artists who themselves have been members of Ariane Mnouchkine’s legendary troupe: Duccio Bellugi-Vannuccini and Judit Jancsó. Their personal presence offers the audience a rare opportunity to hear directly from the creators of the Théâtre du Soleil about their experiences, insights, and reflections. Such an occasion is exceptional, as members of the Mnouchkine theatre seldom visit Hungary, and their appearance may offer a fresh perspective to Hungarian theatre discourse. We are particularly delighted that during their stay they will also hold workshops for SZFE students, allowing the younger generation of artists to benefit directly from their knowledge and experience.
The aim of the SZFE Books series is not only to convey scholarly values but also to enrich the living culture of theatre. Béatrice Picon-Vallin’s work fits into this spirit: it offers a historical overview, personal testimonies, and inspiring thoughts on the social mission of theatre. Ariane Mnouchkine’s words capture the essence of the book’s spirit: “The theatre is meant to tell us, to explain the world to us, to give us the strength to understand it, and thereby to enable us to change it as well.”
All those interested are warmly welcome to the launch. The event is not only a celebration of a book but also a tribute to one of the most influential creative workshops in contemporary theatre.
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