XpatLoop Interview: Bence Mattyasovszky, Katona József Theatre

  • 8 Nov 2012 11:00 AM
XpatLoop Interview:  Bence Mattyasovszky, Katona József  Theatre
Mr. Bence Mattyasovszky is the administrative director for Katona József Theatre from 2001. As an administrative director he is responsible for the supervision of technical and administration works in the theatre. He maintains relations with sponsors and he is also responsible for the supervision of the marketing and PR policy.

Mr. Mattyasovszky took his degree as a lawyer in 2003 at Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Faculty of Law. During his studies Bence started to work in Radnóti Theatre at the sales department. He worked there for six years and he changed his position (with a little bypass) for his current work.

He studied economy between 2009 and 2011 at College of Finance and Accountancy. He wrote his paper about marketing, his research focused on the new tendencies of communication, especially in services, such as theatre.
Bence spent two weeks as fellow in the UK in the summer of 2008, he researched communication at cultural institutions. He has been several times as guest lecturer in different Universities (Freie Universität, Berlin; MOME, Budapest).


1. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Budapest. But my parents come from Pécs and Kiskőrös, which is a friendly little town near Kecskemét.

2. If you could be an expat anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
I don't know. I've been in love with London for years, but my last experience wasn't as nice as earlier. It was crowded and expensive. So I prefer now the smaller English cities like Manchester or Birmingham.

3. What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary?
My friends and my family. Of course I would miss Katona József Theatre, which is a unique theater in Europe.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
After the required places I always try to show them an interesting concert in MÜPA, or a contemporary dance performance in TRAFÓ or something interesting in our theater. I'm quite sure, that one of the leading sector in Hungary is culture. We have a lot of very talented artists.

5. What is your favourite food?
Layered potatoes, as my mother prepares it.

6. What is your favourite sport / form of exercise?
I used to play squash and tennis, nowadays I swim and work out in gym .

7. What is your favourite place in Hungary?
Balaton. Our family has a small house near Fonyód and I really like to spend a few days there once a year.

8. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
I would love to be a pilot. I love to travel and I've been really interested in civil aviation from my childhood. I always plan to get a pilot license, but I never have enough time.

9. What’s a job you would definitely never want?
I can't name anything, because I love to work and I'm really interested in a lot of things beside cultural management. I can't imagine that I wouldn't find anything interesting in a job.

10. Where did you spend your last vacation?
I was on Rhode with friends for a week in last June. That was my first trip to a Greek island and I loved it.

11. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
I plan to go to Fuertaventura this November, because my summer was very busy, so I didn't have a real holiday.

12. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
My hobby was theatre (I watched performances every other day), and my favourite band was Kft.

13. What can’t you resist?
Sweets.

14. Red wine or white?
White. However, my Italian friends have taught me that the color of the wine is red.

15. Book or movie?
Book, because it gives more freedom for my imagination.

16. Morning person or night person?
Definitely night person. I hate mornings.

17. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
Poverty because a lot of people live a life they never enjoy.

18. Buda or Pest side?
Both. I grew up in Buda side, but I love Újlipótváros, as well where I live now.

19. Which achievement in your life are you most pleased about?
I'm very pleased to work in Katona József Theatre. I was a fan of the company when I was a teenager and I'm very proud of our artistic movements and my colleagues' results in operation.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
No risk, no glory.

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