Harlekin Puppet Theatre: A High Day - Musical Masque about the Birth of Jesus

There are some stories that have to be repeated over and over again to the following generations and for our own sakes. This production by Eger's Harlekin Puppet Theatre relating the story of Mary and Joseph as they seek refuge in Bethlehem and are visited by the three kings who have come to greet the tiny infant is a true synthesis of the different arts, a spectacle that is both ancient and very modern. In this musical masque, the angels announcing the arrival of the Savious deliver a mes...sage of love to humankind. It depends only on us whether we understand the deeper meaning of these sublime words.

One of Eger's best-known cultural institutions, the Harlekin Puppet Theatre has continuously combined tradition and innovation in their productions ever since its establishment, and its members are comfortable working both in Hungary and abroad in different genres. Stage director András Éry-Kovács, who also serves as the company's director, took a somewhat unusual approach to the story of the birth of Jesus with this production of A High Day, which has been an important part of Advent in Eger since its première in 2016, and now it is coming to the Müpa Tent. In addition to text from the original nativity plays, the writer/director also used excerpts from Szilárd Borbély's 'profane passion' While Jesus Sleeps in Our Hearts in this production that utilises music, movement, expressive visuals, archaising masks and beautiful rhyming text as constituent elements of equal importance. The show relates an encounter between the earthly and heavenly worlds, presenting episodes of divine providence and human negligence alike. In the end, it is the power of love that triumphs: angels and people together praise the arrival of the Saviour and the holy holiday of Christmas.