'Blackface' Scandal Hits a Budapest Theatre - Pressure from London to Ban a Production
- 6 May 2026 1:34 PM
Csaba Latorcai, the acting leader of the Christian Democratic People's Party, has condemned as "unacceptable" a decision by a rights agency from London to ban a production at Budapest's Thalia Theatre, directed by Mark Radnai, because a character of colour is portrayed by a white actor wearing blackface.
Latorcai argued that ignoring local cultural context in stage adaptations amounted to an attempt to "uniformise culture".
From a Christian Democratic perspective, he said, Radnai had made no mistake in his casting choice, regardless of pressure from London. He added that Radnai had made the right decision in light of Hungary's specific circumstances.
"What we absolutely cannot allow is for London to dictate to a Hungarian theatre," Latorcai said. "We must not let foreign powers tell us how to think. We are perfectly capable of debating these issues within our own borders. Leave our debates to us!"
News portal Telex quoted Gabor Kalomista, the theatre's director, who noted that Martin McDonagh's play, A Behanding in Spokane, premiered at the Thalia in 2016.
"Even back then, the actor playing the African-American Toby was made up in blackface, yet this did not previously cause issues with the playwright," he said. Radnai, the director of the current production, is also deputy leader of the Tisza Party.
MTI Stock Photo
Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.
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