MASZK Association is an entirely non-institutional and nongovernmental, non-profit organisation. Since the association was founded in 1991, our aim has always been to introduce and help experimenting, innovative artistic communities. As a result of our activity, the best artists working in a minority-marginal position could also perform in Szeged. The main objective of MASZK is to maintain ALTERRA - Contemporary Performing Arts Centre in the Old Synagogue. In the past twenty-five years, the names of the Old Synagogue, that of THEALTER and of MASZK have gradually formed a close association. So far we have presented some 200 groups from more than 30 countries in our town, many of them for the first time in Hungary. We have participated in several co-productions, carried out continuous production management, have established festivals, and our book and CD publishing was widely acknowledged. From civil management to supporting young talents, we have, in every way, contributed to increasing the national and international fame of Szeged. By presenting independent art groups and fresh and innovative theatres, we have aimed at making Szeged an even more dynamic meeting point for the theatres of the eastern, central and southern European region in these 26 years. We believe that we have also contributed to raising the prestige of Hungarian theatre both in the region and in Europe.
In the history of our grown-up festival, 2008 was the year of metamorphosis, and 2009 was the year of illusion. In 2010, we celebrated the seventy-year-old poet Ottó Tolnai with theatre. 2011 was the year of the next generation, 2012 was the year of independent theatres, 2013 was the year of the observing eye and the rabbit, 2014 was the year of the cherubs, and 2015 was a celebration of 25 years.
2016 is the year of the cat.

The special guest of the festival is Sándor Zsótér, acclaimed actor, dramaturge, director and professor at the University of Theatre and Film Arts in Budapest, who will visit the festival both as a director and as an actor.
This year the festival focuses also on workshops. The Tea for Two trainings for theatre and drama students are led by the Sándor Zsótér and Attila Soós, founder and director of Trojka Theatre Company. The workshop demonstrations are to be presented on the 29th of July.
Apart from outstanding local and national theatre makers and the representatives of the next generations, our international guests were again selected primarily from Eastern and Southern Europe, and, as usual, we invited some Hungarian productions from beyond our borders. There are returning performers as well as first timers both from Hungary and abroad, including Groundfloor Group (from Romania), Lifeboat Unit, Stereo Akt and Grotesque Gymnastics. There will also be a special puppet performance series by students majored in directing puppet performances at the University of Theatre and Film Arts.
During these 9 days, we offer more than 50 events at 9 venues, including 5 premieres, open air performances, shows for children and Q and A’s with artists, so hopefully everyone will find something to their liking. We are certain that our programme series will again be full of surprises and unforgettable moments.
We believe that THEALTER, which received the EFFE Label of the European Festivals Association last year, continues to be a festival which can cherish its traditions and achievements as well as succeed in renewing itself so that it can always offer more to its audiences. When programming the festival events, our goal was both to keep the old values and to create new ones in order to present a strong and energetic independent performing arts scene to the audience, to our community.
Our audience is important for us and we hope everyone will feel it. We hope we are also important for our audience. The future continues.