The Emperor’s New Clothes

Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale has been adapted for the stage by Parti Nagy Lajos, one of the most prominent and now canonical figures of contemporary Hungarian drama. Reworking the familiar story through his distinctive language, style and unmistakable humour, the author creates a fresh interpretation of the well-known tale.

Commissioned by the Mesebolt Puppet Theatre of Budapest, the stage adaptation turns its focus to the Emperor of Hacukisztán and the court that constantly surrounds him. Rather than simply retelling the story of the emperor, consumed by his own vanity, and his new clothes, the adaptation remains within the framework of Andersen’s original tale. At the same time, however, it places greater emphasis on the underlying reasons, seeking to uncover the mechanism at work behind the story—one that helps reveal the deeper meaning of the tale and makes it not merely relevant to the present day, but timeless.

Director Nagy Regina brings the text to the stage through a variety of theatrical and puppetry techniques and systems of expression. The production incorporates elements of pantomime, shadow theatre and giant-puppet techniques.