Hungarian puppet show set for Meet in Beijing Arts Festival

Háry János, a Hungarian puppet show, will be performed at the Beijing Tianqiao Art Center at the Meet in Beijing Arts Festival from April 30 to May 1.

The main character is Háry János, who claims to be a folk hero. He's a veteran hussar of the Austrian army during the first half of the 19th century who sits in the village inn regaling his listeners with fantastic tales of heroism. His supposed exploits include winning the heart of the Empress Marie Louise, the wife of Napoleon, and then single-handedly defeating Napoleon and his armies. Nevertheless, he finally renounces all his riches to go back to his village with his sweetheart. The stories conjured up in his imagination are an inextricable mixture of realism and naivety, of comic humor and pathos. Though superficially he appears to be merely a braggart, essentially he is a natural visionary and poet.

Budapest Puppet Theater, one of the largest puppet theaters central Europe, was founded on Oct 8, 1949. It aims to show the diversity of puppet play and to prove that puppet shows are not only for children, but a dramatic style suitable for people of all ages. Budapest Puppet Theater has been invited to perform more than 70 times in places around the world, winning numerous awards and gaining huge success. Háry János has been performed in 11 countries on14 tours and has been highly praised by audiences.

A special performance of Háry János for autistic children and their parents will be held on May 1, thanks to the 18th Meet in Beijing Arts Festival and The World of Art Brut Culture.