László Marton (director) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
László Marton
|
|
---|---|
Marton in 2003
|
|
Born | Budapest, Hungary
|
6 January 1943
Died | 12 September 2019 (aged 76) |
Occupation | theatre director, artistic director |
Years active | 1967–2019 |
László Marton (born January 6, 1943 – died September 12, 2019) was a famous Hungarian theatre director. He was known for bringing classic plays to life in new and exciting ways. His plays were shown in over 40 cities around the world.
Marton was the artistic director of the Vígszínház theatre in Budapest. He was also a professor at the University of Theatre, Film and Television in Budapest. He was an Honorary Member of the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He won several awards, including three Dora Mavor Moore Awards for his plays by Anton Chekhov in Toronto. He also won the Irish Times Theatre Award for Best Director for his play The Wild Duck in Dublin.
Early Life and Education
László Marton was born in Budapest, Hungary. His parents were Ilona Keresztes and László Marton, Sr. He was also related to the well-known Hollywood movie director Andrew Marton.
Marton became interested in theatre at a young age. His godfather, the Hungarian conductor János Ferencsik, first introduced him to the world of opera. Marton went to the Secondary School of the Piarist Fathers. He then graduated from the University of Theatre, Film and Television in Budapest in 1967.
In the same year, when he was 24, he directed his first professional play. This play was at the Vígszínház in Budapest. He later became the artistic director there in 1987.
A Career in Theatre
Marton's international career began in 1974 in Germany. He directed plays at the Deutsches Nationaltheater and Staatskapelle Weimar. From then on, he directed for many famous theatres. These included the Finnish National Theatre and the Habima Theatre in Israel. He also worked at the Barbican Centre in London and the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
Some of his most important works included new versions of plays by Anton Chekhov. He directed Platonov and Uncle Vanya for the Soulpepper Theatre Company in Toronto. He also directed Uncle Vanya for Playmakers Repertory Company in North Carolina. In 2008, Soulpepper Theatre Company brought back his production of Uncle Vanya to celebrate their 10th anniversary.
In 2003, Marton directed a new version of Henrik Ibsen's The Wild Duck. This play was shown at The Peacock Theatre in Dublin and later at Soulpepper Theatre Company in Toronto. His play Dance in Time was invited to the Abbey Theatre's 100-year celebration in 2004. A year later, he directed A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen for the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
In 2009, Marton directed Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera The Magic Flute. He worked on this with the Hungarian State Opera House for the Vígszínház.
Critics praised Marton's plays for being very emotional. They said he brought a deep understanding of human feelings to classic stories. An actress who worked with him said he was "incredibly demanding but he's incredibly kind as well. It just creates an atmosphere where it feels safe to risk things."
Awards and Honors
László Marton received many awards and honors throughout his career. These awards recognized his talent and contributions to theatre.
- Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary – Commander's Cross with the Star (2009)
- Irish Times Theatre Award – Best Director (for The Wild Duck) (2004)
- International Associate Director – Abbey Theatre Dublin (2003–2004)
- Kossuth Prize – Hungary (2003)
- The Most Inspiring Civil Leader Award (2002)
- Dora Mavor Moore Award – Best Production (for Platonov) (2001)
- Dora Mavor Moore Award – Best Director (for Platonov) (2000)
- Doctor of Liberal Arts (1999)
- Zsolt Harsányi Memorial Award (1998)
- Member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society USA (1997)
- Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic – Commander's Cross (1994)
- Pro Budapest Award (1994)
- Podmaniczky Award (1994)
- Imre Roboz Memorial Award (1994)
- Full-resident Professor of the Hungarian Academy of Dramatic Art (1992)
- Dora Mavor Moore Award – Best Production (for Three Sisters) (1991)
- Honorary Member of the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama (1990)
- The Award of the Hungarian Architects' Society (1985)
- Pro Children Award (1985)
- Artist of Merit of the Hungarian People's Republic (1984)
- Pro Castle Theatre Award (1982)
- Special Award of City of Veszprém – Veszprém TV Festival (1982)
- Plovdiv International TV Award (1982)
- Mari Jászai Award (1975)