András Visky
Introduction '''András Visky''' (born April 13, 1957) 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 (Doctor of Liberal Arts) 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 (see Bărăgan deportations); 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  Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 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  Dragoş Galgoţiu, 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 (Budapest), Northern Illinois University (DeKalb IL), the University of Michigan (Kalamazoo MI), the University of California, San Diego (CA), Yale School of Drama (New Haven CT), Károli Gáspár University (Budapest), Josai International University (Tokyo, Japan), and Osaka University (Osaka, Japan). 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 (Juliet)'', ''Megöltem az anyámat (I Killed My Mother)'', ''Tanítványok (Disciples)'', ''Alkoholisták (Alcoholics)'', ''Visszaszületés (Born for Never'' or ''Backborn)'', ''Hosszú péntek (Long Friday)'', ''Pornó (Porn''), and ''Caravaggio Terminal (Caravaggio Terminal''). Notable productions include:2017 - ''The Unburied. The Saint of Darkness'', Foreign Affairs, 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 (Juliet)'' - Pesti Magyar Színház, Budapest.2016 - ''The Unburied. The Saint of Darkness'', a radio play - Above the Arts – Arts Theatre, London.2016 - ''Megöltem az anyámat (I Killed My Mother)'' - Petőfi Theatre, Sopron, Hungary.2016 - ''Pornó (Porn)''- Teatr Nowy, Poznan, Poland.2016 - ''Juliet'' – Ruse, Bulgaria.2015 - ''Pornó (Porn)''- 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 (Caravaggio Terminal)'', a project by András Visky and Robert Woodruff - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Robert Woodruff.2013 - ''Juliet'' (English version of ''Júlia'') - Sacred Playground Theatre Project, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, directed by Robin Witt.2013 - ''I Killed My Mother'' (English version of ''Megöltem az anyámat'') - Summer Dialogue Productions, Rosemary Branch Theatre, London, directed by Natalia Gleason.2012 - ''Porn'' (English version of ''Pornó'') - Theatre Y, Chicago, directed by Éva Patkó.2012 - ''Ha lesz egy férfinak... (If A Man Has...)'' - Gólem Színház, Budapest, directed by András Borgula.2012 - ''I Killed My Mother'' (English version of ''Megöltem az anyámat'') - Theatre Y, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New York, directed by Karin Coonrod.2011 - ''Megöltem az anyámat (I Killed My Mother)'' - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, created by Csilla Albert and Áron Dimény.2010 - ''Alkoholisták (Alcoholics)'' - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gábor Tompa.2010 - ''Juliet'' (English version of ''Júlia'') - Theatre Y, Royal George Theatre, Chicago, directed by Karin Coonrod.2010 - ''Backborn'' (English version of ''Visszaszületés'') - Laboratory Theater, Calvin College, Grand Rapids MI, directed by Stephanie Sandberg.2010 - ''I Killed My Mother'' (English version of ''Megöltem az anyámat'') - 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 (Born for Never)'' - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gábor Tompa.2009 - ''Naitre à jamais (Born for Never)'' - Festival d'Avignon, where it won the award for best performance in the Off section, directed by Gábor Tompa.2009 - ''Alkoholisták (Alcoholics)'' -  Gárdonyi Géza Theatre of Eger, directed by Menyhért Szegvári.2008 - ''Julieta'' (Romanian version of ''Júlia'') - National Theatre of Iaşi, directed by Ioana Petcu.2007 - ''Disciples'' (English version of ''Tanítványok'') - SummerNITE Company, Elgin Art Showcase, Chicago, directed by Christopher Markle.2007 - ''Júlia (Juliet)'' -  Tamási Áron Theatre, Sfântu Gheorghe, directed by László Bocsárdi.2007 - ''Hosszú péntek (Long Friday)'' - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gábor Tompa.2006 - ''Disciples'' (English version of ''Tanítványok'') - Laboratory Theater, Calvin College, Grand Rapids MI, directed by Stephanie Sandberg.2006 - ''Juliet'' (English version of ''Júlia'') - SummerNITE Company - Theatre Y, New American Theatre, Rockford IL, directed by Christopher Markle.2005 - ''Tanítványok (Disciples)'' - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gábor Tompa.2005 - ''A szökés (The Escape)'', Tompa Miklós Company of the National Theatre of Târgu Mureş, directed by Éva Patkó.2005 - ''Julieta'' (Romanian version of ''Júlia'') - Cluj-Napoca National Theatre, directed by Mihai Măniuţiu.2004 - ''A meg nem született (The unborn)'' - Vígszínház, Budapest, performed by János Kulka, with a guest performance in New York.2003 - ''Vasárnapi iskola (Sunday School)'' - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gyōrgy Selmeczi.2002 - ''Júlia (Juliet)'' - Thália Theatre, Budapest and Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gábor Tompa. Special performances in Bucharest, New York, and Washington D.C.2001 - ''Tanítványok (Disciples)'', Csokonai Theatre, Debrecen, directed by József Jámbor.His other plays include ''FényÁrnyék (Light/Shadow)'' and ''Betlehemi éjszaka (Bethlehem Night)'', a children's play.
Dramaturgical credits at the Hungarian Theatre of Cluj '''2013/2014 season'''''Caravaggio Terminal (Caravaggio Terminal)'', a project by András Visky and Robert Woodruff; directed by Robert WoodruffJohannes von Tepl, ''A földműves és a halál (Death and the Ploughman)'', directed by Mihai Măniuțiu'''2012/2013 season'''After Caragiale, ''Leonida Gem Session (Leonida Gem Session)'', directed by Gábor Tompa'''2011/2012 season'''Charles L. Mee, ''Tökéletes menyegzõ (Perfect Wedding)'', directed by Karin CoonrodThomas Vinterberg, Mogens Rukov, ''Születésnap (Celebration)'', directed by Robert WoodruffRóbert Lakatos, Cecília Felméri, ''Draculatour or The Brand Stroker Project'', directed by Róbert Lakatos'''2010/2011 season'''Albert Camus, ''Caligula'', directed by Mihai MăniuțiuMarin Držić, ''Dundo Maroje'', directed by Robert Raponja Georg Büchner, ''Leonce és Léna (Leonce and Lena)'', directed by Gábor TompaAndrás Visky, ''Alkoholisták (Alcoholics)'', directed by Gábor TompaAristophanes, ''Lüszisztraté, avagy a nők városa (Lysistrata, or The City of Women)'', directed by Dominique Serrand'''2008/2009 season'''Anton Chekov, ''Három nővér (Three Sisters)'', directed by Gábor Tompa'''2007/2008 season'''Danilo Kiš, ''Borisz Davidovics síremléke (A Tomb for Boris Davidovich)'', directed by Robert RaponjaHenrik Ibsen, ''Peer Gynt'', directed by David ZinderThomas Bernhard, ''A vadásztársaság (The Hunting Party)'', directed by Dragoş Galgoţiu'''2006/2007 season'''''Énekek éneke (Song of Songs)'', directed by Mihai MăniuţiuAndrás Visky, ''Hosszú péntek (Long Friday)'', directed by Gábor Tompa'''2005/2006 season'''I. L. Caragiale, ''Az elveszett levél (The Lost Letter)'', directed by Gábor TompaAndrás Visky, ''Tanítványok (Disciples)'', directed by Gábor Tompa'''2004/2005 season'''Carlo Goldoni, ''A velencei terecske (The Little Square)'', directed by Mona Chirilă'''2003/2004 season'''Eugène Ionesco, ''Jacques vagy a behódolás (Jack, or The Submission)'', directed by Gábor Tompa2002/2003 seasonBenjamin Britten, György Selmeczi, András Visky, ''A vasárnapi iskola avagy Noé bárkája (The Sunday School or Noah's Ark)'', directed by György Selmeczi'''2000/2001 season'''William Shakespeare, ''Romeo és Júlia (Romeo and Juliet)'', directed by Attila Keresztes'''1999/2000 season'''Samuel Beckett, ''A játszma vége (Endgame)'', directed by Gábor TompaMolière, ''A mizantróp (The Misanthrope)'', directed by Gábor Tompa'''1998/1999 season'''William Shakespeare, ''A vihar (The Tempest)'', directed by Dragoş Galgoţiu'''1997/1998 season'''William Shakespeare, ''Troilus és Cressida (Troilus and Cressida)'', directed by Gábor Tompa'''1996/1997 season'''Eugène Ionesco, ''A székek (The Chairs)'', directed by Vlad MugurMihály Vörösmarty, ''Csongor és Tünde (Csongor and Tünde)'', directed by Tibor Csizmadia'''1995/1996 season'''Lope de Vega, ''A kertész kutyája (The Gardener's Dog)'', directed by László BocsárdiFerenc Molnár, ''Liliom'', directed by István KövesdyWitold Gombrowicz, ''Operett (Operetta)'', directed by Gábor TompaPéter Kárpáti, ''Méhednek gyümölcse (The Fruit of Your Womb)'', directed by László Bérczes'''1994/1995 season'''Milán Füst, ''Máli néni (Mrs. Mali)'', directed by Árpád ÁrkosiMihail Bulgakov, ''Képmutatók cselszövése (The Intrigue of the Hypocrites)'', directed by Gábor TompaWilliam Shakespeare, ''Vízkereszt (Twelfth Night)'', directed by Victor Ioan FrunzăCarlo Goldoni, ''Csetepaté Chioggiában (The Chioggia Scuffles)'', directed by Árpád Árkosi'''1993/1994 season'''János Székely, ''Mórok (Moors)'', directed by Gábor Tompa'''1992/1993 season'''Ervin Lázár, ''Bab Berci kalandjai (The Adventures of Bab Berci)'', directed by István MózesWilliam Shakespeare, ''Szentivánéji álom (A Midsummer Night's Dream)'', directed by Gábor TompaLászló Márton, ''A nagyratörő (The Ambitious)'', directed by Miklós ParászkaSándor Hunyady, ''Erdélyi kastély (Transylvanian Castle)'', directed by Gábor Dehel'''1991/1992 season'''Eugène Ionesco, ''A kopasz énekesnő (The Bald Prima Donna)'', directed by Gábor Tompa'''1990/1991 season'''Slawomir Mrozek, ''Rendőrség (The Police)'', directed by Árpád ÁrkosiWilliam Shakespeare, ''Ahogy tetszik (As You Like It)'', directed by Gábor Tompa
Published works ''Mint aki látja a hangot. Visky Andrással beszélget Sipos Márti (Like One Who Hears Sound. András Visky talks with Márti Sipos. )'', Budapest: 2009''Megváltozhat-e egy ember (Theatre and transformation)'', essays. Cluj: 2009''Gyáva embert szeretsz (Loving a Coward''), poems. Pécs: 2008''Juliet. A Dialogue'', play. Carol Stream, IL: Theatre Y, 2007''Tirami sù. Két monológ: Júlia'' és ''Megöltem az anyámat (Tiramisu. Two monologs: Juliet'' and ''I Killed My Mother)'' Cluj: 2006''A szökés. Három dráma: A szökés, Tanítványok'' és ''Alkoholisták (The Escape. Three plays: The Escape, Disciples'' and ''Alcoholics)'' Cluj: 2006 ''Júlia (Juliet)'', play. Budapest: 2003''Ha megh (If I Should Die)'', poems. Cluj: 2003''Fals tratat de convietuire (A False Treaty for Co-existence)'', novel in Romanian with Daniel Vighi and  Alexandru Vlad. Cluj: 2002''Írni és (nem) rendezni (To Write and (Not) Direct)'', writings on the theory of theatre, Cluj: 2002''Betlehemi éjszaka (Bethlehem Night)'', children's story. Cluj, 1999.This title also appeared in English and Romanian. ''Aranylevél (Golden Leaf)'', poems. Budapest, Cluj: 1999''Goblen (Goblen)'', poems. Pécs: 1998''Reggeli csendesség (Morning Quiet)'', essays. Budapest: 1996''Hamlet elindul (Hamlet Sets Off)'', theatre criticism and studies. Târgu Mureş, Chicago: 1996''Romániai magyar négykezesek'' (Romanian Hungarian Pieces for Four Hands), poems with Gábor Tompa. Pécs: 1994''Hóbagoly (Great White Owl)'', poems. Budapest: 1992''Fotóiskola haladóknak (Photo School for the Advanced)'', poems. Bucharest: 1988. ''Patraszállás (Disembarkation)'', 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 (Theatre and Ritual)'', studies in the theatre of Áron Tamási. Sfântu Gheorge: 1997''Kolozsvár magyar színháza (The Hungarian Theatre of Cluj)'', with co editors Lajos Kántor and József Kōtő. Cluj: 1992''A hely szelleme (The Spirit of Place)'', 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 (Studies on the works of Péter Nádas)'', edited by Péter Rácz I. Budapest: 2007''Tolnai-Szimpózium (Tolnai Symposium)'', edited by Beáta Thomka. Budapest, 2004''Central Europe Now! '', almanac from Young Writers' Meeting. Archa Bratislava: 1994''Felūtés. Írások a magyar alternatív színházról (Upbeat. Writings About Alternative Hungarian Theatre)'', edited by Tibor Várszegi. Budapest, 1992''Fordulatok. Magyar Színházak 1992 (Turnings. Hungarian Theatre 1992)'', edited by Tibor Várszegi. Budapest: 1992''Új Magyar Shakespeare-tár I (New Hungarian Shakespeare Collection I)'', edited by Tibor Fabiny and István Géher. Budapest: 1988
Further reading ''Memories of the Body. András Visky's Barrack Dramaturgy'', edited by Jozefina Komporaly. Chicago/Bristol: University of Chicago Press/Intellect, 2017.With contributions by Jozefina Komporaly, Jeremy Knapp, Karin Coonrod, Ileana Alexandra Orlich, and Márti Sipos. Contains the English texts for the plays ''Juliet'', ''I Killed My Mother'', and ''Porn''.
Awards, honors 2016 - Made a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences2009 - József Attila Award2008 - Bánffy Miklós Award2007 -  Special Prize of the jury of the National Theatre Festival of Pécs 2004 - ARTISJUS Award    2002 - Szép Ernő Award 2002 - Károli Gáspár Award 2001 - Salvatore Quasimodo Special Award 1995 - Soros Foundation Award1993 - Poesis Award1993 - IRAT ALAP Award1993 - Európa 1968 Award
References
External links * Hungarian Theatre of Cluj* University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Notable Romanian Playwrights* Hungarian Literature Online: Excerpt from ''Juliet''* Theatre Forum 2010: ''Writing at Avignon (2009): Dramatic, Postdramatic, or Post-postdramatic'' by Patrice Pavis which includes a section on ''Naitre à jamais (Born for Never)''