Stefánia Palace and Cultural Centre, Performing arts center in Zugló, Hungary
The Stefánia Palace and Honvéd Cultural Centre consists of two adjacent buildings on Stefánia Road in Budapest's 14th district, a few houses from City Park. The Stefánia Palace is the older building; the Honvéd Cultural Centre was handed over in 1979. The theatre hall opened on 1 June 1978. Both buildings belong to the Hungarian army and are open to the public.
The palace was nationalised after World War II and handed to the Hungarian People's Army for cultural and leisure use; the institution itself was founded in 1948. War damage was so severe that full restoration lasted until 1965. From 1952 to 1956 actress Békés Itala led an amateur theatre group here, followed by the Literary Stage from 1956 and the Youth Theatre in the 1970s. The theatre hall opened on 1 June 1978, and the adjacent Honvéd Cultural Centre was handed over in 1979.
The complex takes its name from Stefánia Street, not from a person. Since 1948 it has served the Hungarian People's Army, and today the army still owns both buildings and the operating foundation. From 1952 to 1956 actress Békés Itala, then playing at the Magyar Néphadsereg Színháza, led an amateur theatre group here; the Literary Stage followed in 1956 and the Youth Theatre in the 1970s.
The venue is located on Stefánia Road in Budapest and is accessible by public transportation. Check ahead about current performances and events, as the program changes regularly throughout the year.
The two buildings are still owned by the Hungarian army, and so is the foundation that runs them, yet the complex is open to anyone. The theatre hall itself was handed over on 1 June 1978, decades after the palace was nationalised.
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