Sziget Festival Guide: Spectacular variety shows to catch on The Island of Freedom (2024)

Sziget is kicking off tomorrow, with soon-to-beSzitizensalready flocking to the Óbudai Island to put up their tents (seeherehow to prepare for the festival). Although one of the biggest draws this year isBillie Eilish, andother banging concertsare on the agenda, too, we encourage you to takea cultural break between acts!Sziget has so much to offer: you can take a dip into the world of walking street theatre, contemporary dance, acrobatics, and a variety of exciting performances.

Last time we were captivated by the arts, so this year, we looked around to see what performances were on offer.

Acrobatics and aerialists at the Cirque du Sziget venue

TheCirque du Szigetis a spectacular venue foraerialists, acrobats, and jugglers.It’s worth checking out Circus SchoolBaross Imre: Világok vándora – János vitéz,wherethe classic story of Sándor Petőfi’s epic poem is brought to life with the help of acrobats. It includes acrobatics, juggling, and balancing acts, as well as aerial gymnastics. Speaking of balancing, check outYldor Llach and Sobre Rodes’show, which is full of music, dance, and acrobatics. The performer pirouettes on a bicycle or stands on their head on a moving bicycle.

Cirk La Putyka – BOOM Vol. 2is another promising performance. The young acrobatsfled to Prague to escape the war in Ukraine, and this story shows how the circus world can bring people together. Only theDas Arnak – Bakana showis more unusual, with performers hanging in the air by their hair. But if you’re interested in one of the first Moroccan circus collectives, don’t missChouf le ciel, with a mix of juggling, acrobatics, hip-hop, and traditional music. Then you haveCirque Alfonse Animal’sproduction, a mix of circus, music, theatre, and dance, combined with live music that the cast calls“agricultural funk”– you wouldn’t want to miss it.

Contemporary dance performances

This year’s Sziget will also have plenty of activities for fans of dance theatre.Kovács Domokos Tryangle’ssolo performance, born out ofthe duality of contemporary dance and puppet theatre, explores traditional female and male roles and the dynamics of couple relationships.Lluís Garau’s Fleshis also worth a visit to the Magic Mirror. The dance theatre piece is aboutthe physical and online representation of the body, where sexting, OnlyFans, and the generation gap are as much on display as the madness.

Kata Juhász’s musical one-(wo)man showpromises to beanother exciting experience, showing us what life is like in the politicised European cultural scene. It also showcases how we can still achieve our independence.Máté Váth’s Human Machinewill be just as intriguing, withfive young contemporary dancers exploring the human body. Set off on another unique jorney with theFrantics Dance Company’s Last Space. And if you are after a world filled with sci-fi dance moves and audiovisual show, sign up forFuture Cargo.

Street theatre, Travelling Funfair, etc.

If you’d rather do something active instead of watching, you can alsolearn to juggle, and the Hungarian Juggling Association can help you. At the Travelling Funfair you can play baseball toss, watch the puppeteers, get on Germany’s smallest Ferris wheel, or learn about your future. We thinkSienta la Cabeza’shairdressing showwill also be exciting, where you can even take to the stage if you’re willing to try a new hairstyle. And in theMagyar Táncház, you can get a taste of the folk music treasures of the Carpathian Basin, the atmosphere of the famous Hungarian “táncház” (casual folk dance event).

This year, theGiant Street Theatrewill be back with plenty of surprising performancesin the most unexpected places at the most surprising times. You can run into a giant dragon or animals several metres tall, as well as acrobats and accompanying drummers. There will also beliving statueson Sziget this year, with 12 acts from the Dutch World Living Statues festival and the Portuguese Staticman-Living Statues Masters agency competing for the title of the best.