András Visky (born April 13, 1957) is a Hungarian-Romanian poet, playwright and essayist and the resident dramaturg at Cluj-Napoca Hungarian Theatre, Romania, where he also holds the position of associate artistic director. His plays have been staged in several countries including Romania, Hungary, France, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, England, Scotland and the United States. He has a DLA (Doctor of Liberal Arts) from the University of Theatre and Film, Budapest and since 1994 he has lectured at the Babeş-Bolyai University in the Department of Theatre and Television. He is one of the co-founders and the former executive director of Koinónia Publishing.

Childhood

Visky's father, Ferenc Visky, was a minister of the Hungarian Reformed Church who in 1958 was sentenced to 22 years in prison and forced labor by the Romanian Communist authorities for "the crime of organization against socialist public order." Shortly after, his wife and their seven children were deported to the Bărăgan (see Bărăgan deportations); Visky was only two years old at the time. In 1964, his father and other political prisoners were released during a short-lived period of relative thaw in which the regime relaxed its repressive policies. Visky himself was released the same year along with his mother and siblings.

Professional life

Visky joined the Hungarian Theatre of Cluj as dramaturg in 1990. This was also the beginning of his long professional collaboration with Gábor Tompa, the artistic director of the theatre. The pair have worked together on innumerable performances, including plays by Shakespeare, Chekhov, Ionesco, Caragiale, Gombrowicz and Beckett, and Tompa has directed Visky's Júlia, Tanítványok, Hosszú péntek, Visszaszületés and Alkoholisták. Visky has also worked with directors Dragoş Galgoţiu, Mihai Măniuţiu, Robert Raponja, David Zinder, Robert Woodruff and Karin Coonrod. For the 2009–2010 academic year, Visky was the Spoelhof Chair at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he taught courses in playwriting and Hungarian and Romanian theatre. He has also led workshops or taught as a guest lecturer at the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (Budapest), Northern Illinois University (DeKalb IL), the University of Michigan (Kalamazoo MI), the University of California, San Diego (CA), Yale School of Drama (New Haven CT), Károli Gáspár University (Budapest), Josai International University (Tokyo, Japan), and Osaka University (Osaka, Japan). In 2017 he spoke at the European Division of the Library of Congress.

Plays

Over the course of his play writing, Visky has developed what he terms a "barrack dramaturgy". Having grown up in an eastern European gulag, he returns again and again in his plays to what it means to be a prisoner and the problem of being set free. His most well-known plays include Júlia (Juliet), Megöltem az anyámat (I Killed My Mother), Tanítványok (Disciples), Alkoholisták (Alcoholics), Visszaszületés (Born for Never or Backborn), Hosszú péntek (Long Friday), Pornó (Porn), and Caravaggio Terminal (Caravaggio Terminal). Notable productions include: 2017 - ''The Unburied. The Saint of Darkness'', [Foreign Affairs], Rose Lipman Building, London, directed by Camila França & Trine Garrett. 2017 - I Killed My Mother - Spooky Action Theatre, Washington, D.C., directed by Natalia Gleason Nagy. 2017 - Júlia (Juliet) - Pesti Magyar Színház, Budapest. 2016 - ''The Unburied. The Saint of Darkness'', a radio play - Above the Arts – Arts Theatre, London. 2016 - Megöltem az anyámat (I Killed My Mother) - Petőfi Theatre, Sopron, Hungary. 2016 - Pornó (Porn)- Teatr Nowy, Poznan, Poland. 2016 - Juliet – Ruse, Bulgaria. 2015 - Pornó (Porn)- Szatmári Északi Színház and the Harag György Társulat - Bethlen Téri Theatre, Budapest, Hungary.. 2014 - Fatelessness, based on the novel by Imre Kertesz, adapted by Andras Visky and Adam Boncz - HERE Arts Center, New York. 2014 - Caravaggio Terminal (Caravaggio Terminal), a project by András Visky and Robert Woodruff - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Robert Woodruff. 2013 - Juliet (English version of Júlia) - Sacred Playground Theatre Project, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, directed by Robin Witt. 2013 - I Killed My Mother (English version of Megöltem az anyámat) - Summer Dialogue Productions, Rosemary Branch Theatre, London, directed by Natalia Gleason. 2012 - Porn (English version of Pornó) - Theatre Y, Chicago, directed by Éva Patkó. 2012 - Ha lesz egy férfinak... (If A Man Has...) - Gólem Színház, Budapest, directed by András Borgula. 2012 - I Killed My Mother (English version of Megöltem az anyámat) - Theatre Y, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New York, directed by Karin Coonrod. 2011 - Megöltem az anyámat (I Killed My Mother) - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, created by Csilla Albert and Áron Dimény. 2010 - Alkoholisták (Alcoholics) - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gábor Tompa. 2010 - Juliet (English version of Júlia) - Theatre Y, Royal George Theatre, Chicago, directed by Karin Coonrod. 2010 - Backborn (English version of Visszaszületés) - Laboratory Theater, Calvin College, Grand Rapids MI, directed by Stephanie Sandberg. 2010 - I Killed My Mother (English version of Megöltem az anyámat) - Theatre Y, Greenhouse Theatre, Chicago, directed by Karin Coonrod. 2010 - Green Relief - Grand Rapids Art Museum, as part of the Art Plays project curated by Austin Bunn, directed by András Visky. 2009 - Visszaszületés (Born for Never) - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gábor Tompa. 2009 - Naitre à jamais (Born for Never) - Festival d'Avignon, where it won the award for best performance in the Off section, directed by Gábor Tompa. 2009 - Alkoholisták (Alcoholics) - Gárdonyi Géza Theatre of Eger, directed by Menyhért Szegvári. 2008 - Julieta (Romanian version of Júlia) - National Theatre of Iaşi, directed by Ioana Petcu. 2007 - Disciples (English version of Tanítványok) - SummerNITE Company, Elgin Art Showcase, Chicago, directed by Christopher Markle. 2007 - Júlia (Juliet) - Tamási Áron Theatre, Sfântu Gheorghe, directed by László Bocsárdi. 2007 - Hosszú péntek (Long Friday) - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gábor Tompa. 2006 - Disciples (English version of Tanítványok) - Laboratory Theater, Calvin College, Grand Rapids MI, directed by Stephanie Sandberg. 2006 - Juliet (English version of Júlia) - SummerNITE Company - Theatre Y, New American Theatre, Rockford IL, directed by Christopher Markle. 2005 - Tanítványok (Disciples) - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gábor Tompa. 2005 - A szökés (The Escape), Tompa Miklós Company of the National Theatre of Târgu Mureş, directed by Éva Patkó. 2005 - Julieta (Romanian version of Júlia) - Cluj-Napoca National Theatre, directed by Mihai Măniuţiu. 2004 - A meg nem született (The unborn) - Vígszínház, Budapest, performed by János Kulka, with a guest performance in New York. 2003 - Vasárnapi iskola (Sunday School) - Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gyōrgy Selmeczi. 2002 - Júlia (Juliet) - Thália Theatre, Budapest and Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, directed by Gábor Tompa. Special performances in Bucharest, New York, and Washington D.C. 2001 - Tanítványok (Disciples), Csokonai Theatre, Debrecen, directed by József Jámbor. His other plays include FényÁrnyék (Light/Shadow) and Betlehemi éjszaka (Bethlehem Night), a children's play.

Dramaturgical credits at the Hungarian Theatre of Cluj

2013/2014 season Caravaggio Terminal (Caravaggio Terminal), a project by András Visky and Robert Woodruff; directed by Robert Woodruff Johannes von Tepl, A földműves és a halál (Death and the Ploughman), directed by Mihai Măniuțiu 2012/2013 season After Caragiale, Leonida Gem Session (Leonida Gem Session), directed by Gábor Tompa 2011/2012 season Charles L. Mee, Tökéletes menyegzõ (Perfect Wedding), directed by Karin Coonrod Thomas Vinterberg, Mogens Rukov, Születésnap (Celebration), directed by Robert Woodruff Róbert Lakatos, Cecília Felméri, Draculatour or The Brand Stroker Project, directed by Róbert Lakatos 2010/2011 season Albert Camus, Caligula, directed by Mihai Măniuțiu Marin Držić, Dundo Maroje, directed by Robert Raponja Georg Büchner, Leonce és Léna (Leonce and Lena), directed by Gábor Tompa András Visky, Alkoholisták (Alcoholics), directed by Gábor Tompa Aristophanes, Lüszisztraté, avagy a nők városa (Lysistrata, or The City of Women), directed by Dominique Serrand 2008/2009 season Anton Chekov, Három nővér (Three Sisters), directed by Gábor Tompa 2007/2008 season Danilo Kiš, Borisz Davidovics síremléke (A Tomb for Boris Davidovich), directed by Robert Raponja Henrik Ibsen, Peer Gynt, directed by David Zinder Thomas Bernhard, A vadásztársaság (The Hunting Party), directed by Dragoş Galgoţiu 2006/2007 season Énekek éneke (Song of Songs), directed by Mihai Măniuţiu András Visky, Hosszú péntek (Long Friday), directed by Gábor Tompa 2005/2006 season I. L. Caragiale, Az elveszett levél (The Lost Letter), directed by Gábor Tompa András Visky, Tanítványok (Disciples), directed by Gábor Tompa 2004/2005 season Carlo Goldoni, A velencei terecske (The Little Square), directed by Mona Chirilă 2003/2004 season Eugène Ionesco, Jacques vagy a behódolás (Jack, or The Submission), directed by Gábor Tompa 2002/2003 season Benjamin Britten, György Selmeczi, András Visky, A vasárnapi iskola avagy Noé bárkája (The Sunday School or Noah's Ark), directed by György Selmeczi 2000/2001 season William Shakespeare, Romeo és Júlia (Romeo and Juliet), directed by Attila Keresztes 1999/2000 season Samuel Beckett, A játszma vége (Endgame), directed by Gábor Tompa Molière, A mizantróp (The Misanthrope), directed by Gábor Tompa 1998/1999 season William Shakespeare, A vihar (The Tempest), directed by Dragoş Galgoţiu 1997/1998 season William Shakespeare, Troilus és Cressida (Troilus and Cressida), directed by Gábor Tompa 1996/1997 season Eugène Ionesco, A székek (The Chairs), directed by Vlad Mugur Mihály Vörösmarty, Csongor és Tünde (Csongor and Tünde), directed by Tibor Csizmadia 1995/1996 season Lope de Vega, A kertész kutyája (The Gardener's Dog), directed by László Bocsárdi Ferenc Molnár, Liliom, directed by István Kövesdy Witold Gombrowicz, Operett (Operetta), directed by Gábor Tompa Péter Kárpáti, Méhednek gyümölcse (The Fruit of Your Womb), directed by László Bérczes 1994/1995 season Milán Füst, Máli néni (Mrs. Mali), directed by Árpád Árkosi Mihail Bulgakov, Képmutatók cselszövése (The Intrigue of the Hypocrites), directed by Gábor Tompa William Shakespeare, Vízkereszt (Twelfth Night), directed by Victor Ioan Frunză Carlo Goldoni, Csetepaté Chioggiában (The Chioggia Scuffles), directed by Árpád Árkosi 1993/1994 season János Székely, Mórok (Moors), directed by Gábor Tompa 1992/1993 season Ervin Lázár, Bab Berci kalandjai (The Adventures of Bab Berci), directed by István Mózes William Shakespeare, Szentivánéji álom (A Midsummer Night's Dream), directed by Gábor Tompa László Márton, A nagyratörő (The Ambitious), directed by Miklós Parászka Sándor Hunyady, Erdélyi kastély (Transylvanian Castle), directed by Gábor Dehel 1991/1992 season Eugène Ionesco, A kopasz énekesnő (The Bald Prima Donna), directed by Gábor Tompa 1990/1991 season Slawomir Mrozek, Rendőrség (The Police), directed by Árpád Árkosi William Shakespeare, Ahogy tetszik (As You Like It), directed by Gábor Tompa

Published works

''Mint aki látja a hangot. Visky Andrással beszélget Sipos Márti (Like One Who Hears Sound. András Visky talks with Márti Sipos.)'', Budapest: 2009 Megváltozhat-e egy ember (Theatre and transformation), essays. Cluj: 2009 Gyáva embert szeretsz (Loving a Coward), poems. Pécs: 2008 ''Juliet. A Dialogue'', play. Carol Stream, IL: Theatre Y, 2007 ''Tirami sù. Két monológ: Júlia és Megöltem az anyámat (Tiramisu. Two monologs: Juliet and I Killed My Mother)'' Cluj: 2006 ''A szökés. Három dráma: A szökés, Tanítványok és Alkoholisták (The Escape. Three plays: The Escape, Disciples and Alcoholics)'' Cluj: 2006 Júlia (Juliet), play. Budapest: 2003 Ha megh (If I Should Die), poems. Cluj: 2003 Fals tratat de convietuire (A False Treaty for Co-existence), novel in Romanian with Daniel Vighi and Alexandru Vlad. Cluj: 2002 Írni és (nem) rendezni (To Write and (Not) Direct), writings on the theory of theatre, Cluj: 2002 Betlehemi éjszaka (Bethlehem Night), children's story. Cluj, 1999. This title also appeared in English and Romanian. Aranylevél (Golden Leaf), poems. Budapest, Cluj: 1999 Goblen (Goblen), poems. Pécs: 1998 Reggeli csendesség (Morning Quiet), essays. Budapest: 1996 Hamlet elindul (Hamlet Sets Off), theatre criticism and studies. Târgu Mureş, Chicago: 1996 Romániai magyar négykezesek (Romanian Hungarian Pieces for Four Hands), poems with Gábor Tompa. Pécs: 1994 Hóbagoly (Great White Owl), poems. Budapest: 1992 Fotóiskola haladóknak (Photo School for the Advanced), poems. Bucharest: 1988. Patraszállás (Disembarkation), poems. Bucharest: 1982 As editor: ''De la Shakespeare la Sarah Kane. Teatrul National din Cluj. Spectacole din perioda 2000-2007/De Shakespeare à Sarah Kane. Le Théâtre National de Cluj. Spectacles de a période 2000-2007/From Shakespeare to Sarah Kane. The National Theatre of Cluj. Performances from 2000-2007.'' Cluj: Koinónia Publishing, 2008 Színház és rítus (Theatre and Ritual), studies in the theatre of Áron Tamási. Sfântu Gheorge: 1997 Kolozsvár magyar színháza (The Hungarian Theatre of Cluj), with co editors Lajos Kántor and József Kōtő. Cluj: 1992 A hely szelleme (The Spirit of Place), an anthology of contemporary Hungarian drama. Cluj: 1992 As contributor: The Routledge Companion to Dramaturgy, edited by Magda Romanska. Routledge: 2014 Testre szabott élet – Nádas Péter Saját halál és Párhuzamos történetek című műveiről (Studies on the works of Péter Nádas), edited by Péter Rácz I. Budapest: 2007 Tolnai-Szimpózium (Tolnai Symposium), edited by Beáta Thomka. Budapest, 2004 Central Europe Now!, almanac from Young Writers' Meeting. Archa Bratislava: 1994 ''Felūtés. Írások a magyar alternatív színházról (Upbeat. Writings About Alternative Hungarian Theatre)'', edited by Tibor Várszegi. Budapest, 1992 ''Fordulatok. Magyar Színházak 1992 (Turnings. Hungarian Theatre 1992)'', edited by Tibor Várszegi. Budapest: 1992 Új Magyar Shakespeare-tár I (New Hungarian Shakespeare Collection I), edited by Tibor Fabiny and István Géher. Budapest: 1988

Awards, honors

2016 - Made a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences 2009 - József Attila Award 2008 - Bánffy Miklós Award 2007 - Special Prize of the jury of the National Theatre Festival of Pécs 2004 - ARTISJUS Award 2002 - Szép Ernő Award 2002 - Károli Gáspár Award 2001 - Salvatore Quasimodo Special Award 1995 - Soros Foundation Award 1993 - Poesis Award 1993 - IRAT ALAP Award 1993 - Európa 1968 Award