András Visky


András Visky is a Hungarian-Romanian poet, playwright and essayist and the resident dramaturg at Cluj-Napoca Hungarian Theatre, Romania, where he also holds the position of associate artistic director. His plays have been staged in several countries including Romania, Hungary, France, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, England, Scotland and the United States.
He has a DLA from the University of Theatre and Film, Budapest and since 1994 he has lectured at the Babeş-Bolyai University in the Department of Theatre and Television. He is one of the co-founders and the former executive director of Koinónia Publishing.

Childhood

Visky's father, Ferenc Visky, was a minister of the Hungarian Reformed Church who in 1958 was sentenced to 22 years in prison and forced labor by the Romanian Communist authorities for "the crime of organization against socialist public order." Shortly after, his wife and their seven children were deported to the Bărăgan ; Visky was only two years old at the time. In 1964, his father and other political prisoners were released during a short-lived period of relative thaw in which the regime relaxed its repressive policies. Visky himself was released the same year along with his mother and siblings.

Professional life

Visky joined the as dramaturg in 1990. This was also the beginning of his long professional collaboration with Gábor Tompa, the artistic director of the theatre. The pair have worked together on innumerable performances, including plays by Shakespeare, Chekhov, Ionesco, Caragiale, Gombrowicz and Beckett, and Tompa has directed Visky's Júlia, Tanítványok, Hosszú péntek, Visszaszületés and Alkoholisták. Visky has also worked with directors , Mihai Măniuţiu, Robert Raponja, David Zinder, Robert Woodruff and Karin Coonrod.
For the 2009–2010 academic year, Visky was the Spoelhof Chair at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he taught courses in playwriting and Hungarian and Romanian theatre. He has also led workshops or taught as a guest lecturer at the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, Northern Illinois University, the University of Michigan, the University of California, San Diego, Yale School of Drama, Károli Gáspár University, Josai International University, and Osaka University. In 2017 he spoke at the European Division of the Library of Congress.

Plays

Over the course of his play writing, Visky has developed what he terms a "barrack dramaturgy". Having grown up in an eastern European gulag, he returns again and again in his plays to what it means to be a prisoner and the problem of being set free. His most well-known plays include Júlia , Megöltem az anyámat , Tanítványok , Alkoholisták , Visszaszületés , Hosszú péntek , Pornó, and Caravaggio Terminal. Notable productions include:
2017 - The Unburied. The Saint of Darkness, , Rose Lipman Building, London, directed by Camila França & Trine Garrett.

2017 - I Killed My Mother - Spooky Action Theatre, Washington, D.C., directed by Natalia Gleason Nagy.

2017 - Júlia - Pesti Magyar Színház, Budapest.

2016 - The Unburied. The Saint of Darkness, a radio play - Above the Arts – Arts Theatre, London.

2016 - Megöltem az anyámat - Petőfi Theatre, Sopron, Hungary.

2016 - Pornó - Teatr Nowy, Poznan, Poland.

2016 - Juliet – Ruse, Bulgaria.

2015 - Pornó - Szatmári Északi Színház and the Harag György Társulat - Bethlen Téri Theatre, Budapest, Hungary..

2014 - Fatelessness, based on the novel by Imre Kertesz, adapted by Andras Visky and Adam Boncz - HERE Arts Center, New York.

2014 - Caravaggio Terminal , a project by András Visky and Robert Woodruff - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Robert Woodruff.

2013 - Juliet - Sacred Playground Theatre Project, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, directed by Robin Witt.

2013 - I Killed My Mother - Summer Dialogue Productions, Rosemary Branch Theatre, London, directed by Natalia Gleason.

2012 - Porn - Theatre Y, Chicago, directed by Éva Patkó.

2012 - Ha lesz egy férfinak... - Gólem Színház, Budapest, directed by András Borgula.

2012 - I Killed My Mother - Theatre Y, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New York, directed by Karin Coonrod.

2011 - Megöltem az anyámat - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, created by Csilla Albert and Áron Dimény.

2010 - Alkoholisták - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gábor Tompa.

2010 - Juliet - Theatre Y, Royal George Theatre, Chicago, directed by Karin Coonrod.

2010 - Backborn - Laboratory Theater, Calvin College, Grand Rapids MI, directed by Stephanie Sandberg.

2010 - I Killed My Mother - Theatre Y, Greenhouse Theatre, Chicago, directed by Karin Coonrod.

2010 - Green Relief - Grand Rapids Art Museum, as part of the Art Plays project curated by Austin Bunn, directed by András Visky.

2009 - Visszaszületés - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gábor Tompa.

2009 - Naitre à jamais - Festival d'Avignon, where it won the award for best performance in the Off section, directed by Gábor Tompa.

2009 - Alkoholisták - , directed by Menyhért Szegvári.

2008 - Julieta - National Theatre of Iaşi, directed by Ioana Petcu.

2007 - Disciples - SummerNITE Company, Elgin Art Showcase, Chicago, directed by Christopher Markle.

2007 - Júlia - , Sfântu Gheorghe, directed by László Bocsárdi.

2007 - Hosszú péntek - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gábor Tompa.

2006 - Disciples - Laboratory Theater, Calvin College, Grand Rapids MI, directed by Stephanie Sandberg.

2006 - Juliet - SummerNITE Company - Theatre Y, New American Theatre, Rockford IL, directed by Christopher Markle.

2005 - Tanítványok - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gábor Tompa.

2005 - A szökés , Tompa Miklós Company of the National Theatre of Târgu Mureş, directed by Éva Patkó.

2005 - Julieta - Cluj-Napoca National Theatre, directed by Mihai Măniuţiu.

2004 - A meg nem született - Vígszínház, Budapest, performed by János Kulka, with a guest performance in New York.

2003 - Vasárnapi iskola - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gyōrgy Selmeczi.

2002 - Júlia - Thália Theatre, Budapest and Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gábor Tompa. Special performances in Bucharest, New York, and Washington D.C.

2001 - Tanítványok , Csokonai Theatre, Debrecen, directed by József Jámbor.


His other plays include FényÁrnyék and Betlehemi éjszaka , a children's play.

Dramaturgical credits at the Hungarian Theatre of Cluj

2013/2014 season

Caravaggio Terminal , a project by András Visky and Robert Woodruff; directed by Robert Woodruff

Johannes von Tepl, A földműves és a halál , directed by Mihai Măniuțiu
2012/2013 season

After Caragiale, Leonida Gem Session , directed by Gábor Tompa
2011/2012 season

Charles L. Mee, Tökéletes menyegzõ , directed by Karin Coonrod

Thomas Vinterberg, Mogens Rukov, Születésnap , directed by Robert Woodruff

Róbert Lakatos, Cecília Felméri, Draculatour or The Brand Stroker Project, directed by Róbert Lakatos
2010/2011 season

Albert Camus, Caligula, directed by Mihai Măniuțiu

Marin Držić, Dundo Maroje, directed by Robert Raponja

Georg Büchner, Leonce és Léna , directed by Gábor Tompa

András Visky, Alkoholisták , directed by Gábor Tompa

Aristophanes, Lüszisztraté, avagy a nők városa , directed by Dominique Serrand
2008/2009 season

Anton Chekov, Három nővér , directed by Gábor Tompa
2007/2008 season

Danilo Kiš, Borisz Davidovics síremléke , directed by Robert Raponja

Henrik Ibsen, Peer Gynt, directed by David Zinder

Thomas Bernhard, A vadásztársaság , directed by Dragoş Galgoţiu
2006/2007 season

Énekek éneke , directed by Mihai Măniuţiu

András Visky, Hosszú péntek , directed by Gábor Tompa
2005/2006 season

I. L. Caragiale, Az elveszett levél , directed by Gábor Tompa

András Visky, Tanítványok , directed by Gábor Tompa
2004/2005 season

Carlo Goldoni, A velencei terecske , directed by Mona Chirilă
2003/2004 season

Eugène Ionesco, Jacques vagy a behódolás , directed by Gábor Tompa
2002/2003 season

Benjamin Britten, György Selmeczi, András Visky, A vasárnapi iskola avagy Noé bárkája , directed by György Selmeczi
2000/2001 season

William Shakespeare, Romeo és Júlia , directed by Attila Keresztes
1999/2000 season

Samuel Beckett, A játszma vége , directed by Gábor Tompa

Molière, A mizantróp , directed by Gábor Tompa
1998/1999 season

William Shakespeare, A vihar , directed by Dragoş Galgoţiu
1997/1998 season

William Shakespeare, Troilus és Cressida , directed by Gábor Tompa
1996/1997 season

Eugène Ionesco, A székek , directed by Vlad Mugur

Mihály Vörösmarty, Csongor és Tünde , directed by Tibor Csizmadia
1995/1996 season

Lope de Vega, A kertész kutyája , directed by László Bocsárdi

Ferenc Molnár, Liliom, directed by István Kövesdy

Witold Gombrowicz, Operett , directed by Gábor Tompa

Péter Kárpáti, Méhednek gyümölcse , directed by László Bérczes
1994/1995 season

Milán Füst, Máli néni , directed by Árpád Árkosi

Mihail Bulgakov, Képmutatók cselszövése , directed by Gábor Tompa

William Shakespeare, Vízkereszt , directed by Victor Ioan Frunză

Carlo Goldoni, Csetepaté Chioggiában , directed by Árpád Árkosi
1993/1994 season

János Székely, Mórok , directed by Gábor Tompa
1992/1993 season

Ervin Lázár, Bab Berci kalandjai , directed by István Mózes

William Shakespeare, Szentivánéji álom , directed by Gábor Tompa

László Márton, A nagyratörő , directed by Miklós Parászka

Sándor Hunyady, Erdélyi kastély , directed by Gábor Dehel
1991/1992 season

Eugène Ionesco, A kopasz énekesnő , directed by Gábor Tompa
1990/1991 season

Slawomir Mrozek, Rendőrség , directed by Árpád Árkosi

William Shakespeare, Ahogy tetszik , directed by Gábor Tompa

Published works

Mint aki látja a hangot. Visky Andrással beszélget Sipos Márti , Budapest: 2009

Megváltozhat-e egy ember , essays. Cluj: 2009

Gyáva embert szeretsz, poems. Pécs: 2008

Juliet. A Dialogue, play. Carol Stream, IL: Theatre Y, 2007

Tirami sù. Két monológ: Júlia és Megöltem az anyámat Cluj: 2006

A szökés. Három dráma: A szökés, Tanítványok és Alkoholisták Cluj: 2006

, play. Budapest: 2003

Ha megh , poems. Cluj: 2003

Fals tratat de convietuire , novel in Romanian with Daniel Vighi and Alexandru Vlad. Cluj: 2002

Írni és rendezni , writings on the theory of theatre, Cluj: 2002

Betlehemi éjszaka , children's story. Cluj, 1999. This title also appeared in English and Romanian.

Aranylevél , poems. Budapest, Cluj: 1999

Goblen , poems. Pécs: 1998

Reggeli csendesség , essays. Budapest: 1996

Hamlet elindul , theatre criticism and studies. Târgu Mureş, Chicago: 1996

Romániai magyar négykezesek, poems with Gábor Tompa. Pécs: 1994

Hóbagoly , poems. Budapest: 1992

Fotóiskola haladóknak , poems. Bucharest: 1988.
Patraszállás , poems. Bucharest: 1982
As editor:

De la Shakespeare la Sarah Kane. Teatrul National din Cluj. Spectacole din perioda 2000-2007/De Shakespeare à Sarah Kane. Le Théâtre National de Cluj. Spectacles de a période 2000-2007/From Shakespeare to Sarah Kane. The National Theatre of Cluj. Performances from 2000-2007. Cluj: Koinónia Publishing, 2008
Színház és rítus , studies in the theatre of Áron Tamási. Sfântu Gheorge: 1997

Kolozsvár magyar színháza , with co editors Lajos Kántor and József Kōtő. Cluj: 1992

A hely szelleme , an anthology of contemporary Hungarian drama. Cluj: 1992
As contributor:

The Routledge Companion to Dramaturgy, edited by Magda Romanska. Routledge: 2014

Testre szabott élet – Nádas Péter Saját halál és Párhuzamos történetek című műveiről , edited by Péter Rácz I. Budapest: 2007

Tolnai-Szimpózium , edited by Beáta Thomka. Budapest, 2004

Central Europe Now!, almanac from Young Writers' Meeting. Archa Bratislava: 1994

Felūtés. Írások a magyar alternatív színházról , edited by Tibor Várszegi. Budapest, 1992

Fordulatok. Magyar Színházak 1992 , edited by Tibor Várszegi. Budapest: 1992

Új Magyar Shakespeare-tár I , edited by Tibor Fabiny and István Géher. Budapest: 1988

Awards, Honors

2016 - Made a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

2009 - József Attila Award

2008 - Bánffy Miklós Award

2007

2004 – ARTISJUS Award

2002 - Szép Ernő Award

2002 - Károli Gáspár Award

2001 - Salvatore Quasimodo Special Award

1995 - Soros Foundation Award

1993 - Poesis Award

1993 - IRAT ALAP Award

1993 - Európa 1968 Award