The Attila Kaszás Award is a professional and human recognition of actors acting in the Hungarian language. This year, thirty-three troupes nominated one of their members for the award, and then the nominees chose the three actors from among themselves in a secret vote who advanced to the public vote. It was the first time that the three artists nominated for the award were all women, and with my first figure, a female artist won the award.
Until midnight on August 23, the public could cast their votes for one of the three actors in the competition in the last round of the Attila Kaszás Award. Esther Ballare, Erzsébet Eccedire is Ildiko Tóthon. The final result was announced on August 30, at the evening gala of the National Theater Season Opening at the National Theater in Szeged. The award ceremony is hosted by the director of the theater, László Barnák organized by
Eszter Balla received the award this year.
Founded in 2008 by the Hegyvidéki Self-Government and the Mozaik Art Association, the award, in addition to professional recognition, also serves to nurture the intellectual legacy of the actor Attila Kaszás, since the actor, who died at a young age, always played a major role in shaping his troupes into a community.
Eszter Balla graduated as an actor from the University of Theater and Film Arts in 2001, after which she performed at the National Theatre, the Csiky Gergely Theater in Kaposvár, the Új Színház, the József Katona Theater in Kecskemét, the Madách Theater and the Déryné Vándorszíntársulat. Currently, we can meet him most often at the Central Theatre, where the My Fair Lady and the Peter Black in addition to lectures entitled Game in the castle will also take the stage in the presentation of Molnár’s work.
Eszter Balla in the performance The Game in the Castle (Photo/Source: Judit Horváth / Central Theater)
The actor was nominated for the Attila Kaszás Award by 6SZÍN, where in 2023, Polish Andor presented in his direction The secret of a long life is featured in the performance. He was also seen in many film roles, among others Moscow Square in the work entitled, a Seasonin, a Rental apartmentin and a Controlin, his latest film work József Pacskovszky presented this year Almost a bride was in his work entitled Mother of three children, husband Daniel Garas cameraman.
With the dramatist a culture.hu conducted an interview in advance, in which Eszter Balla stated that when she found out who the other two candidates were in the final round, she wished from the bottom of her heart that she would not receive the Attila Kaszás award, but rather Erzsébet Ecsedi or Ildikó Tóth, because she likes both of them very much and he respects. “I haven’t received any award in twenty-three years, and I have no resentment or sadness about it. I was rather embarrassed, because I was surprised that 6SZÍN was nominated, especially since it is called a company award. 6SZÍN is an inclusive theater, and I only play in one play there, but it was nice that they nominated me out of the many actors who visit them.”
Eszter Balla in the performance My Fair Lady (Photo/Source: Dávid Puskás / Central Theater)
I’ve never been able to step on stage as Eliza without a cloud of happiness,
because it was always in my mind that I was playing because it wasn’t played by Kátya – he recalled My Fair Lady to take over her female lead role at the Central Theater, where she is currently seen in the performance Robert Alföldi as a partner. – Now that he’s gone, I have completely mixed emotions, because we’re talking about my former serious role dream, and I’m happy that he found me again. Later Tamás (Tamás Puskás, director of the Central Theater – ed.) contacted me again that a Peter Black also take on a role in the operetta.
For twenty years, I have only been cast as naïves, and I really enjoy that I have finally stepped into a more characterful role.
I took on the role of Colette, the soubrette, and fortunately it turned out well. (…) After a twenty-year absence, I started to integrate into a company where I feel very comfortable. The Centrál private theater has a family atmosphere with modern and classic productions that the directors do not want to overdo. I feel close to this theatrical approach.”
The recognition in previous years József Szarvas, Noble Levente, László Matray, Zoltán Mucsi, Banyai Kelemen Barna, Tamás Borovics, Great Alfred, Tibor Butcher, Zoltán Schneider, Csaba Krisztik, Zsolt Nagy Csongor, Russian Ákos, Tamás Földes, András Rusznák, Attila Harsányi and Zoltán Csankó could take over.
Header photo: Eszter Balla (photo/source: Lili Júlia Hegyi / Attila Kaszás Award)
