A series of performances split into seven consecutive evenings between 23-29 September 2023, addressing the surveillance and the forced closure of György Galántai’s Chapel Studio in Balatonboglár, from 50 years later, at the original location.

In this first version of „Freedom Trap”, split into seven days of the week, consecutive performances based on varied interpretations of different types of texts are underpinned or counterpointed by musical segments. The piece composed of this rehearsal-like performances, in a so-called “counter-concert” format, applying experimental speech techniques, vocal and musical methods, innovatively interprets texts from two different sources. On the one hand it revives a selection of writings by the legendary Hungarian underground artist, writer and film director who died young – Tibor Hajas (1946-80); and on the other, it uncovers and discredits selected archival materials, such as intelligence and police reports on the community and events of the Balatonboglár Chapel Studio – in which Hajas regularly participated.

“Freedom Trap”, 2023
Performance series split into seven consecutive evenings
Developed and directed by: Hajnal Németh
Realized by: Péter Barta, Dóra Csernátony, Sophie Horvath, Ágoston Janesch, Péter Janesch, Júlia Koffler, Bence Kovács, Goran Milosevic, Katica Nagy, Kálmán Oláh, Albert Orgon, Rebeka Zsuzsanna Pál, Zofia Polak, Károly Puka, Gyula L. Szabó, Attila Till, Dimitrij Vincze
Contributing artists: Arnold Dreyblatt, Zsolt Sőrés, Jeremy Woodruff

Photo by Rania Ruzsa