The Pinceszínház grew out of the Budapesti Ifjúsági Színpad [Budapest Youth Stage], founded in 1964, before moving to its new location (3. Török Pál street) in 1966, where it has been known by its new name. It was under the supervision of the Municipial Council and operated as one of the sites of the Minicipial Cultural Centre until 1979. It was both a student theatre base and an amateur theatre workshop. It advertised annual admissions for amateur actors, dramaturgs and scenic designers aged 14-26. It also offered young directors the opportunity to make their debut or to work creatively, e.g. Péter Léner and Tamás Fodor directed several productions here as young professionals. The two most influential directors of the Pinceszínház were István Keleti and Éva Mezei. Keleti headed the institution from January 1969 to 1985, while Mezei helped him as a literary programme editor. The repertoire included classics (Antigone, A hetvenkedő katona [The Braggart Soldier], A helység kalapácsa [The Hammer of the Village]), modern adaptations of classics (e.g. Késői kísérlet [The Late Attempt], a transcription of Romeo and Juliet, A búgócsiga [The Spinning Top], based on Ibsen’s Doll’s House, or István Eörsi’s A huligán Antigoné [Antigone, the Hooligan]), literary evenings (Kígyóölő dal, [Song to Kill a Snake], Vonulnak a századok [The March of Centuries], Fiatal költők fóruma [Young Poets’ Forum]), new plays (András Mezei: Bábel [Babel], György Schwajda: Hat fiú, hat lány [Six boys, six girls]), playful variety shows (Nincs valami más? [Is there something else?], Utazás a hobby körül [A Journey around Hobby], etc.) The performances were characterised by a playful, grotesque style, with many elements of physical theatre. For the student actors, the Pinceszínház was a real community experience and a theatre school that first and foremost taught them about life.

See the productions, the interviews and the reference list here:

Pinceszínház