Events

NIGHT OF LITERATURE

Night of Literature – A Journey through World Literature in Unusual Settings

The Night of Literature invites audiences on an extraordinary journey through world literature. Over the course of three evenings, actors will read excerpts from the works of 26 authors representing 26 countries – all in locations not typically associated with literature, casting new light on both the texts and the settings.

This year’s theme, which connects the selected literary pieces, is SANCTUARY.

In Debrecen, for the seventh year in a row, atmospheric venues in the historic city centre will host these literary readings. The diverse palette of world literature will come to life through the performances of actors from the Csokonai National Theatre.

Theatre partner: Csokonai National Theatre Debrecen
Supporters: Municipality of the City of Debrecen, German Cultural Forum Debrecen, Debrecen Literature
Patron of the Night of Literature in Debrecen: Dr. István Puskás, Deputy Mayor for Culture

GUIDE TO THE NIGHT OF LITERATURE

• Readings will take place simultaneously at 9 different venues (8 on Sunday), between 6:30 PM and 9:30 PM. Rain venues are provided in case of bad weather.
• At each location, a 10–15-minute excerpt from a selected author’s work will be performed, starting at 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, and 9:00 PM.
• On different nights, the various venues will showcase literature from different countries.
• Visitors are free to plan their own literary route each evening, with printed maps available for guidance.
• Participation is free of charge and no prior registration is required.

GAME TIME!

As part of the event, we’ll be holding our traditional game: lucky participants will have the chance to win valuable book packages. The rules will be published during the week leading up to the event.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE NIGHT OF LITERATURE

The first Night of Literature was held in Prague in 2006. In Hungary, the event was brought to life by the Czech Centre in Budapest and has been organised annually since 2016. Since 2019, Debrecen has also joined Budapest in hosting these special readings. Originally a one-day event, it expanded to a three-night format in 2020. The project is coordinated by EUNIC Hungary (the network of European national cultural institutes and cultural departments of embassies based in Budapest).

May 30

CZECHIA | Petra Dvořáková: The Crows | Performed by: Imelda Hajdu | Venue: Új Galéria

SOUTH KOREA | Hwang Borum: The Bookstore | Performed by: Vivien Edelényi | Venue: Libertine Bookstore Debrecen

FINLAND | Pauliina Rauhala: Heavenly Song | Performed by: Anna Ráckevei | Venue: Evangelical Church of Debrecen

HUNGARY | Gabriella P. Lőrincz: Anton | Performed by: Árpád Bakota | Venue: Courtyard of the Old Town Hall | 7:30 PM

GERMANY | Daniel Kehlmann: Motion Picture | Performed by: János Mercs | Venue: Courtyard of the German Cultural Forum Debrecen | 6:30 PM

ROMANIA | Daniel Bănulescu: The Best Novel of All Time (16+) | Performed by: Hunor Pál | Venue: Foyer of the Csokonai Theatre

ITALY | Beatrice Salvioni: The Damned | Performed by: Evelin Szép | Venue: Small Reformed Church of Debrecen

SLOVAKIA | Jana Juráňová: The Good-for-Nothing | Performed by: Andrea Tokai | Venue: Courtyard of the Reformed College of Debrecen

SLOVENIA | Anja Mugerli: Carnival | Performed by: István Papp | Venue: Foyer of the Vojtina Puppet Theatre | 8:30 PM

May 31

AUSTRIA | Daniel Glattauer: Forever Yours | Performed by: Anna Vékony | Venue: Foyer of the Csokonai Theatre

ESTONIA | Piret Raud: Catharsis | Performed by: Gergely Máté Kiss | Venue: Foyer of the Vojtina Puppet Theatre

NETHERLANDS | Manon Uphoff: Falling as if Flying | Performed by: Boglárka Berkó | Venue: Courtyard of the German Cultural Forum Debrecen

POLAND | Hanna Krall: Maria H. Remembers | Performed by: Klári Varga | Venue: Small Reformed Church of Debrecen

LITHUANIA | Giedra Radvilavičiūtė: My American Biography | Performed by: Edit Majzik | Venue: Új Galéria | 8:30 PM

UNITED KINGDOM | Maddie Mortimer: Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies | Performed by: Kinga Újhelyi | Venue: Evangelical Church of Debrecen | 6:30 PM

PORTUGAL | José Saramago: Blindness | Performed by: Julianna Horváth | Venue: Courtyard of the Old Town Hall | 7:30 PM

SPAIN | Félix J. Palma: Interior Spaces | Performed by: Richárd Kránicz | Venue: Courtyard of the Reformed College of Debrecen

TURKIYE | Defne Suman: Scheherazade’s Silence (16+) | Performed by: Zsófia Wessely | Venue: Libertine Bookstore Debrecen

June 1

BELGIUM – FLANDERS | Willem Elsschot: The Leg | Performed by: Zsolt Csata | Venue: Courtyard of the German Cultural Forum Debrecen | 7:30 PM

BULGARIA | Mihail Veshim: The English Neighbour | Performed by: Artúr Vranyecz | Venue: Courtyard of the Old Town Hall | 8:30 PM

ISRAEL | Amos Oz: Panther in the Basement | Performed by: Bence Pálóczi | Venue: Courtyard of the Reformed College of Debrecen

JAPAN | Toshikazu Kawaguchi: Before the Coffee Gets Cold | Performed by: Eszter Balázs-Bécsi | Venue: Új Galéria

FRANCE | Valérie Perrin: Three | Performed by: Zsuzsa Lehőcz | Venue: Evangelical Church of Debrecen

NORWAY | Roy Jacobsen: Eyes of the Rigel | Performed by: Márk Komlódy | Venue: Libertine Bookstore Debrecen

SWITZERLAND | Daniel Mezger: Playing the Countryside | Performed by: Gergő Nagyidai | Venue: Foyer of the Csokonai Theatre | 6:30 PM

UKRAINE | Tanya Pjankova: The Age of Red Ants | Performed by: Gabriella Szász | Venue: Small Reformed Church of Debrecen