"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.

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

"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.

“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!