Unique Jewish cultural hub opens in Budapest

The idea of a complex Jewish cultural center sprang from the founder of Hungary’s internationally acclaimed Golem Theater, András Borgula. Golem Theater – the only professional Jewish theater company in Hungary – was founded back in 2005 by Borgula who has been the artistic director since then.

Working on a project-based model with renowned actors and leading theater professionals from the Hungarian contemporary art scene, Golem has no permanent ensemble. Additionally, having no own playhouse, the company performs at various venues since its founding.

„We have always planned to move to a permanent base, which is an obvious advantage when you run a theater. For that very reason I was delighted when, upon our inquiry, Budapest’s District 7 municipality agreed to lease us one of their derelict buildings, an old bakery in the very heart of the city’s Old Jewish Quarter” – tells Borgula, adding: „Given an ever-increasing appetite for arts and culture in Budapest, we decided to widen our scope and transform our operation from purely running a theater to opening a contemporary Jewish cultural center with complex programming”.