We are again turning to the public because we want to inform our audience and the professional community about our position regarding the unacceptable situation that has arisen in connection with the appointment of the new director.

On January 10, 2025, we learned through the press that János Zalán had been appointed as the new director of Kolibri Theatre. Although we understand that the theatre company has no direct influence over the selection process, we were deeply shocked to learn that the candidate who received only a single vote at the company’s hearing won the support of the professional committee responsible for the recommendation.

Since János Zalán had not contacted the company since the minister’s announcement over a week and a half ago, we could only familiarise ourselves with his plans by relying on his application, which was made available only a few days ago. After reviewing the winning proposal, we became increasingly concerned that the new director’s plans include elements that are not favourable to the company.

We believe that his ideas do not match the unique characteristics of our theatre and are full of unrealistic proposals, such as doubling the number of performances, the need for the theatre’s “economic rescue”, regularly renting out our venue to the Academy of Theatre and Film Arts (SZFE), or basing the theatre’s operation on state-funded programs. In our view, these plans are not only unfeasible but could also endanger the theatre’s current successful operation of its established programmes and, most importantly, jeopardise the service it provides to Kolibri’s unique audience.

This is further supported by the applicant’s claim that should the hoped-for funding from state decisions (which are not market-based) dry up, he would transform Kolibri into an adult entertainment theatre. This unfortunate and unacceptable prospect is reinforced by the fact that the proposal practically does not contain any artistic concept addressing the needs of Kolibri’s early years, children, and youth audiences.

It is incomprehensible to us how such an application could meet the criteria set by the funding body, which clearly focused on the continuation of performances for young audiences, including the youngest ones, and the preservation of the theatre’s established values. In our view, the publicly released justification from the professional committee is not aligned with the actual content of the winning proposal. 

We would like to receive an explanation from the professional committee on the reasons they had for supporting János Zalán’s application, as well as from the funders, about what future they envision for Kolibri Theatre: the preservation of its values or their dismantling?

 

January 23, 2025

Kolibri Theatre