It’s all about the drama
We are a group of theatre makers residing in Budapest collaborating to bring you captivating theatre since 2014. Budapest English theatre presents local and international productions throughout the year.Venues will change, depending on production.
Your passport to captivating local and international plays. Join us for a year-round celebration of drama, laughter, and the art of storytelling.
Thank you to our audience for their support in our production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Martin McDonagh.
Previous Productions
In the Grove of Forgetting
In the Grove of Forgetting is a new script under development with TimeLine Theatre in Chicago and TheatreSquared, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where playwright Robert Ford is artistic director. The Budapest English Theatre reading will be its first appearance in Europe.
“For more than four years we’ve been developing this script—set in Budapest before and after World War II—without having set foot in Hungary. We’ve been working with American actors at theatres in Chicago and at TheatreSquared in Fayetteville, Arkansas. So we’re very excited to walk the sites where the story actually unfolds, the streets and cafes of Pest, Gellert Hill, Liszt Ferenc Akademie. And even more, we’re thrilled to collaborate with Budapest English Theatre — and see these characters realised by Hungarian actors.” – Robert Ford
Summer, 1938. The fictional Ilona Raab, a concert pianist known for her sharp wit as much as her brilliant musicianship, refuses to be ruled by fear, even as her fellow Jewish artists and academics flee Hungary. Surely Budapest is safe from the growing Nazi fervor—isn’t it? Filled with intrigue, music, and wry humour, this play is a taut emotional thriller, as a woman caught in one of history’s darkest moments fights to find a way forward.
Amy Herzberg | Sasha Wittenski | Balázs Csémy | Géza Bodor
Consulting director for BET: Robert Cogo-Fawcett | Marketing and FOH: Beth Spisljak | Technical and co-ordination: Izak Furstenberg
The Beauty Queen of Leenane
The rebirth of BET with a brand new 2024 season smash sold out shows! We continued the Play Readings @BrodyHouse Series.
In a dingy cottage in Leenane, a remote part of Galway, spinster Maureen lives with her self-pitying, ruthless, hateful mother, Mag. Constantly at her beck and call, Maureen takes revenge by feeding her lumpy Complan and hurling the occasional insult. Escape comes in the form of Pato Dooley, who is about to go to Boston. When Mag interferes once too often Maureen decides the time has come to break free — in a very violent way.
The Beauty Queen of Leenane is a 1996 dramatic play by Martin McDonagh which was premiered by the Druid Theatre Company in Galway, Ireland. It also enjoyed successful runs at London’s West End, Broadway and Broadway.
It was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award as Best Play for the London production, and the 1998 Broadway production was nominated for six Tony Awards, winning four, for Best Leading Actress in a Play, Best Featured Actor in a Play, Best Featured Actress in a Play (Anna Manaham), and Best Direction of a Play (Garry Hynes).Wiki
The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh
Presented as part of our Play Readings @BrodyStudios Series, The Pillowman played to full houses during the 2016 season.
Winner of the Tony Award and Olivier Award for Best Play, from the pen of the acclaimed Martin McDonagh, this dark comedy may be his blackest ever.
A man is arrested and interrogated about his short stories… stories that bear a striking resemblance to a series of local child murders. He denies knowledge of the crimes, but is he innocent? Is it true, as he claims, that the only duty of a storyteller is to tell a story?
“We saw The Pillowman and wow – It was fantastic! The actors played just brilliantly, together with the spooky sounds and visual effects this was a thrilling performance! Loved It! Thanks BET team, can’t wait to see more of your shows!“
– Peter Bacs
“A most compelling piece. Beautifully and seamlessly directed and staged. I didn’t miss scenery, costumes or props one little bit. Great work from all the cast!! Bravo!!“
– Anne McVey
Master of his Domain by Virginia Proud
The first of our Play Readings @BrodyStudios, raising the roof during the 2015 season.
Shorty wouldn’t call life at Glenview Nursing Home enjoyable, but he gets by. As long as he can complain to his long-time nurse Gloria, he can almost forgive the awful food, the passing years and the fact that his children never visit. But when Gloria’s outside life intrudes, Shorty’s world is thrown into chaos. Her replacement is a stickler for the rules and worse, seems to lack a sense of humour. How on earth is he going to survive?
“I have seen 4 BET productions, all have been Innovative, entertaining, interesting and well executed performances. A really great addition to the Budapest English language cultural scene“
– Kath Griffiths
“I loved every minute of Master of His Domain, great performance from all. I especially loved the main character, the delivery was very natural and honest. Highly recommend for everyone!”
– Jankó Emese
Pretext by Virginia Proud
Pretext’s middle aged heroines, Cathy, Lucy and Anne must face the unfortunate truth that men their own age are abandoning their dating pool for the younger model. But rather than drown their sorrows in martinis, they fight back with a plan to seduce hot, young men – while they still can. The consequences are not exactly what they anticipated, but it works a treat. That is, until they are caught in their own web of deceit.
Written and directed by the company’s Artistic Director, Virginia Proud, she also takes to the stage with Beth Spisljak, Esther Holbrook and Madeleine Damasdi. The show debuted in Budapest in October 2014 to an enthusiastic response
Budapest English Theatre 