"There is a healing power in the way this performance is constructed and carried by the actor. The bitterness of that historical period truly comes through—and sadly, it still feels very relevant. But this performance offers a sense of release." The third stop of our Attila120 European tour took place at Palazzo Coppini in Florence, where we celebrated József Attila’s 120th birthday and Hungarian Poetry Day with our performance I Am Not, Only Others See Me, based on his texts. This performance was special, as it was the first time we presented the piece with foreign-language subtitles—for the Italian-speaking audience, the text was projected in Italian. We were very pleased to hear the feedback: even with subtitles, the performance was emotionally engaging and deeply meaningful. During the post-performance discussion, the texts opened the door to speak about ourselves and to reflect on the continuing relevance of József Attila’s poetry. Themes such as poverty, marginalization, exclusion, societal pressure, and the difficulties of our present time were discussed. We are grateful for the collective reflection, curiosity, and engagement—and that this evening truly became a celebration. Special thanks to Associazione Culturale Italo-Ungherese della Toscana for initiating and organizing the event, and to our partners Cesvot, Palazzo Coppini, Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco, Informatore, and Forlilpsi.

"The performance felt very personal—it drew us in, and we could sense the background of József Attila and his writings and poems." The first stop of our Attila120 European tour was the Zrínyi Miklós High School in Zalaegerszeg, where we performed I Am Not, Only Others See Me, based on the texts of József Attila, for graduating students. From the very beginning, the students’ focused attention and emotional connection with the depth of the performance were clearly felt. During the post-performance discussion, we explored themes such as homelessness, searching for identity, trauma, loneliness, exclusion, and the ongoing relevance of the emotions expressed in József Attila’s texts. It was powerful to discover that, through these poems, we were essentially speaking about ourselves. We are grateful for the engaged attention, the openness, the curiosity, and the personal reflections shared after the performance. Thank you for the invitation!

"I never liked József Attila before, but this performance really helped me understand his poems better and see the background of his texts and his life more clearly. This performance was very human." On Wednesday morning, we presented our performance I Am Not, Only Others See Me, based on the texts of József Attila, twice at the Szent Gellért Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Budapest. Presented as a classroom performance, this unconventional literature class provided the perfect setting for students to explore the poet’s life and writings and to reflect further on their meanings. From the beginning, the students' attention and resonance with the emotional depth of the performance were clearly felt. During the post-performance discussion, we explored topics such as homelessness, the search for identity, trauma, loneliness, exclusion, and how József Attila’s emotions are still relevant today. We are grateful for the school’s trust, the students’ openness, and the many personal reflections shared during the discussion. It was powerful to witness how relevant József Attila’s words remain for today’s youth.

“This performance resonated with me deeply, and all kinds of emotions ran through me! It brought back old thoughts and how I used to see the world. It made me reflect on how my parents might have experienced certain situations, what it could have been like from the other side. Perhaps more smiles, conversations, closeness, and love could be the solution to these issues.” On the occasion of World Theatre Day, we presented our documentary performance As Water Reflects the Face in Vienna. From the very first moments, the attention and emotional connection of the audience were clearly felt. During the post-performance discussion, we explored topics such as visions of the future, personal responsibility, attentiveness to others and to ourselves, loneliness, inclusion, and love. It was a true celebration, a meaningful Meeting through Theater. We thank AMAPED – the Association of Hungarian Educators in Austria for organizing the event and for their warm, family-like hospitality. The event was made possible with the support of the Tiszta Formák Foundation.

"One word comes to mind after the performance: lack of love. Perhaps love, genuine empathy toward one another, and paying attention could be the key to solving our problems—no matter the type of relationship." Last week in Budapest, we presented our documentary performance As Water Reflects the Face at Katona József Theater. The audience followed the performance with deep attention and visibly experienced each moment of it. During the post-performance discussion, it was a joy to see how many viewers felt the urge to speak—whether in connection with a symbol or prop, a particular topic, or a scene. We experienced a true dialogue, a genuine celebration of theater and human connection. We thank the audience for the thoughts and personal stories shared, and we are also grateful to Katona József Theater for offering a space for this meaningful encounter.

“We long for attention, but often don’t receive it because our parents have to work. In this situation, it can help if there are teachers at school who can reinforce the image of a mother or a father. Unfortunately, most teachers are women, so many places lack a male role model.” On Monday at noon, we presented our documentary performance As Water Reflects the Face to the students of Semmelweis University’s Bókay János Vocational School at H13 Kultpont. Following the performance, there was space for discussion and shared reflection on the themes of the piece. Topics included parent-child relationships, emotional distance, love, visions for the future, personal responsibility, and paying attention to one another—and to ourselves. We are grateful to H13 Kultpont for their support in making this event possible!

"This performance showed me a different side of József Attila. I never really liked his poems before, but now you’ve revealed such delicate layers in these texts that I experienced something truly profound." The second stop of our Attila120 European tour took place in Graz, where GUT – Grazer Ungarisches Theater hosted our performance I Am Not, Only Others See Me, based on the writings of József Attila. From the very beginning, the audience’s attention and emotional connection to the performance were palpable. During the post-performance discussion, we explored themes such as homelessness, the search for identity, trauma, loneliness, isolation, and the contemporary relevance of the emotions in Attila’s work. It was powerful to realize that through his texts, we were actually speaking about ourselves. We are deeply grateful for the attentive audience, for the personal thoughts shared after the performance, and to GUT for their warm hospitality and generous organization. We truly experienced a Meeting through Theater.

"I really enjoyed this performance because it wasn’t just reciting poems—it jumped straight into the essence, it drew me in, moved me, and gave me the chance to rediscover and reinterpret these József Attila poems. Some of them, I truly understood for the first time today." In recent days, we presented our performance I Am Not, Only Others See Me, based on the texts of József Attila, at the Ötpacsirta Salon of the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library. It was uplifting to meet such attentive, curious, and thoughtful audience members. We experienced a true Meeting through Theater. The post-performance discussion brought forth profound and meaningful reflections. The freshness of Attila’s texts allowed for open conversations about our own emotions and perspectives. Topics included homelessness, searching for identity, trauma, loneliness, isolation, exclusion, the lack of love, and how these experiences remain deeply relevant today. We are grateful for the personal thoughts shared and for the support of the Józsefváros Municipality, which made this event possible.

"I really liked this performance. It felt as though József Attila came back after his death and told the story of his life." On Monday, we presented our performance I Am Not, Only Others See Me, based on the texts of József Attila, twice at the Magyar Gyula Horticultural Technical School and Vocational Training Institute. The classroom setting provided the perfect environment to explore the poet’s life and writings, and to reflect on them further. During the post-performance discussion, profound thoughts emerged. The freshness of Attila’s texts allowed us to speak about our own emotions and view of the world. We discussed homelessness, the search for identity, trauma, loneliness, isolation, exclusion, and the lack of love—acknowledging how present these situations and feelings still are today. We are grateful for the invitation, the focused attention, and the personal thoughts shared during the discussion.

"The performance was profound, and many scenes made me think. At the end, the cries of ‘mother’ and ‘father,’ followed by the silence cards and how we all just sat there in silence—that truly moved me." We concluded the tour of our performance As Water Reflects the Face in Slovakia, at the Párkány High School. In the gymnasium transformed into a theater space, attention and a strong connection between the students and the actors quickly emerged. During the post-performance discussion, we spoke about emotional distance, love, visions for the future, personal responsibility, and the importance of attentiveness to ourselves and to one another. We are thankful to the school for organizing and hosting us, and to the students for the personal thoughts they shared during the discussion. The event was made possible with the support of the Tiszta Formák Foundation.

"We need to talk more about these issues. It would be good to take time, to pause and reflect. We need to communicate in order for things to improve, and we need to pay attention to one another." Last week, we presented our documentary performance As Water Reflects the Face at Erzsébetligeti Theater to several high school classes. It was inspiring to sense the students’ attention, interest, and sensitivity to the topics and scenes portrayed. During the post-performance discussion, we talked about parent-child relationships, the difficulties of parenthood, loneliness, the lack of love, the importance of paying attention to each other, and the value of shared experiences. We are grateful for this collective experience and for the thoughts, feedback, enthusiasm, and curiosity shared during the discussion after the performance.

The tour of As Water Reflects the Face, a production based on the personal stories of youngsters, will start with a performance at H13 Kultpont in Budapest on 24 March. Afterwards, on 25 March, the performance will be staged at Erzsébetliget Theatre, and on the evening of 26 March, the spectators will be able to see the performance at Katona József Theatre. On 27 March, the company will perform in Vienna on the occasion of the World Theatre Day, and on 28 March the tour will end with a performance held for the students of the Párkány High School in Upper Hungary. The last two events will be carried out with the support of Tiszta Formák Foundation. In each case, the performances will be followed by an interactive audience discussion, which will provide space for collective reflection and conversation about the topics and issues raised in the documentarist piece. The documentarist performance directed by Misi Fazakas, which has already been presented 635 times, is based on the personal stories of the youth, thus the company explores the social and societal problems affecting youngsters, the situation and stories of lonely children, helpless parents, vulnerable young people, showing our faces as reflected by water. The production has been presented in 193 settlements of 24 countries on 3 continents, has been invited to 12 festivals and has won best performance awards twice. Cast: Mucha Oszkár Mihácsi Veronika Póra Jácinta Kalotai Máté Basa Ádám Technician: Fábián Vilmos Director: Misi Fazakas Tour Schedule: 📍 March 24, 12:00 – Budapest, H13 Kultpont 📍 March 25, 11:00 – Budapest, Erzsébetligeti Theater 📍 March 26, 19:15 – Budapest, Katona József Theater 📍 March 27, 18:00 – Vienna, AMAPED – Association of Hungarian Educators in Austria 📍 March 28, 12:00 – Párkány, Párkány High School