Anita Szőkeová
Profile
Anita Szőkeová studied at the Josef Vydra’s School of Arts and Crafts (the present Josef Vydra’s School of Applied Arts) where she majored in visual art (1992–1996). After the first unsuccessful attempt to be admitted to the Academy of Performing Arts, she attended a post-secondary programme in Kolárovo. There, under the guidance of Hungarian graphic artist Tibor Kopócs, she learned the glazing technique. After that she worked as a lecturer at the Museum of National History in Galanta. The following year, in 1998, she was admitted to the Academy of Performing Arts, where she majored in stage design and costume art in Aleš Votava’s class. After graduation (2003), she worked for numerous Slovak theatres from Bratislava to Košice (Slovak National Theatre, Aréna Theatre, ASTORKA Korzo ’90 Theatre, GUnaGU Theatre, a.ha Theatre, Small Stage STU Theatre, City Theatre Bratislava, West Theatre, Studio L+S, New Stage Theatre, Andrej Bagar Theatre in Nitra, Jókai Theatre in Komárno, Jozef Gregor Tajovský Theatre in Zvolen, Dance Studio Theatre in Banská Bystrica, Spiš Theatre in Spišská Nová Ves, National Theatre Košice, Thália Theatre Színház in Košice, Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov, and Prešov National Theatre).
While still a student at the Academy of Performing Arts, Anita Szőkeová focused on creating stage designs, even though she also worked on some production as a costume designer, mainly for the Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov and the Thália Theatre Színház in Košice.
During her university studies, she commenced her cooperation with the director Dušan Bajin. Their first production was the play Presidents (2000) by Werner Schwab, in which her signature stage design would first take shape. She set the characters, tormented by life, in an intimate, white empty space in order to highlight the last station of their lives.
Szőkeová’s collaboration with Bajin later continued in the State Theatre Košice (the present National Theatre Košice). Between 2002 and 2008, she left a visible mark there and continued to make use of an empty space as the principal stage element. Similarly to the approach she took in her school production, she did the set for The Ťapák Clan (2004) and Dancing over the Tears (2004). In the former, she chose the naked construction of a stable to hint at the emptiness of the individual characters. When staging Peter Zvon’s dramatic text, she split the big stage by with a portal. Its centre was the cutout of a picture frame, interconnecting the world of the past and present, in the same way as the black-and-white chess-board-like floor.
Szőkeová used empty spaces when working with many other directors as well, for example in the production Girlfriends (2006) directed by Roman Polák, or The Mercy Seat (2006) directed by Vladimír Strnisko. In both cases, she used warm, earthy colours to create a contrast to the themes of the productions. In the first instance, the empty space depicts an emotionally drained relationship. She also used a moving mirror wall to reveal the real relationship between the characters. In the second production, she likewise created a contrast between the warm welcoming apartment and the deceptiveness of the characters.
Her most frequent collaborator is the director Michal Náhlík. Their first common production was Jenufa (2007) staged at the Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov. They worked together in Košice, where the most outstanding production was The House of Bernarda Alba (2007). The designer built a large construction of a fashion salon, highlighting the director’s reinterpretation of Lorca’s classic. Such modernization approach to staging world classics in collaboration with the directors then continued, for example, in Anton Pavlovich Chekhov’s The Seagull (2011), where Szőkeová divided the space of the Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov into horizontal sections. The upper part represented a kind of loge box, while the lower layer symbolized the sterility of the modern world, mostly owing to the shiny tiles, reminiscent of bathrooms on display in stores.
The collaboration with Michal Náhlík brought her also to the genre of the musical. In this type of theatre, Szőkeová substituted the empty space with spectacular stage design, dividing large stages into smaller performance spaces, allowing directors better construction of mise-en-scenes and more effective representation of dramatic conflicts.
An important element in Szőkeová’s art is wire – a material she used in the production Equees (2008, Thália Színház Theatre), directed by Imre Csiszár. The wire was used to make flawless replicas of a horse’s head, which the actors wore on their own heads. Szőkeová demonstrated her craft also in Partybr(e)akers (2007, Slovak National Theatre), directed by Patrik Lančarič. The stage was empty and featured only white sheets on which images were projected. The central part of the stage was occupied by a wire chair. With musicals, Szőkeová uses the same method as with drama – big stages are split into smaller performance units, such as those in Cabaret (2015, Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov). At the same time, she tries to locate the productions in stylized spaces reminiscent of period-relevant contexts, such as the mediaeval altar in Joan of Arc (2015, Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov).
Anita Szőkeová also works as a costume designer, although much less frequently. In Helver’s Night (2002, State Theatre Košice), she dressed the actors in period-neutral costumes which allowed for several interpretations of the work. On the other hand, in Les Liaisons Dangereuses (2004), she used stylized historical costumes in Rococo fashion. Each costume’s colour and shape underscored the individualization of the characters.
(Author: Adam Nagy, published online on 30th December 2024)
- 2000 / Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava / stage design / Werner Schwab: The Presidents, directed by Dušan Bajin
- 2000 / Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava / stage design / Silvester Lavrík: Katarina, directed by František Vámosi
- 2000 / Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava / stage design / George Tabori: Ballad of the Breaded Veal Cutlet, directed by Dušan Bajin
- 2001 / Dance Studio, Banská Bystrica / stage and costume design / Rooms, choreography by Marta Poláková
- 2002 / GUnaGU Theatre / stage and costume design / Viliam Klimáček: Lara, directed by Viliam Klimáček
- 2002 / Andrej Bagar Theatre in Nitra / stage design / Mikhail Yurievich Lermontov: Masquerade directed by József Czajlik
- 2002 / State Theatre Košice / costume design / Miro Gavran: All about Women, directed by Dušan Bajin
- 2002 / State Theatre Košice / costume design / Ingmar Villqist: Helver’s Night, directed by Dušan Bajin
- 2003 / Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava / costume design / Tennessee Williams: A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur, directed by Patrik Lančarič
- 2003 / Aréna Theatre, Bratislava / stage and costume design / Olya Mukhina: You, directed by Marián Amsler
- 2003 / State Theatre Košice / stage design / Ingmar Villqist: Oscar and Ruth, directed by Patrik Lančarič
- 2003 / State Theatre Košice / costume design / Zoltán Egressy: Portugal, directed by Dušan Bajin
- 2003 / WEST Theatre, Bratislava / stage design / The Queen Sings the Blues, directed by Nikita Slovák
- 2004 / State Theatre Košice / stage design / Peter Zvon: Dancing over the Tears, directed by Patrik Lančarič
- 2004 / City Theatre Bratislava / stage design / Peter Pavlac: FUN(e)brak, Inc. (Episode I), directed by Patrik Lančarič
- 2004 / State Theatre Košice / costume design / Christopher Hampton: Les Liaisons Dangereuses, directed by Dušan Bajin
- 2004 / Dance Studio, Banská Bystrica / stage and costume design / Tomáš Nepšinský a Jozef Vlk: Wonders of Space/Divy priestoru, choreography by Tomáš Nepšinský
- 2004 / State Theatre Košice / stage design / Božena Slančíková-Timrava: The Ťapák Clan, directed by Dušan Bajin
- 2004 / Aréna Theatre Bratislava / stage design / Dirty Dancing, directed by Ján Ďurovčík
- 2004 / Thália Theatre/Thália Színház Košice / costume design / Jenő Heltai: The Girls of the Tündérlaki Family, directed by Menyhért Szegvári
- 2005 / Thália Theatre/Thália Színház Košice / stage and costume design / László Dobos, Sándor Beke: Outcasts, directed by Sándor Beke
- 2005 / State Theatre Košice / stage design / Carlo Collodi: Pinocchio, directed by Dušan Bajin
- 2005 / Studio L+S / stage design / Peter Pavlac: My Mum Had a Brother, directed by Patrik Lančarič
- 2005 / State Theatre Košice / stage design / William Shakespeare: Othello, directed by Dušan Bajin
- 2005 / Thália Theatre/Thália Színház Košice / costume design / Zoltán Egressy: Lost Paradise, directed by Sándor Beke
- 2006 / ASTORKA Korzo ’90 Theatre Bratislava / stage design / Pavol Weiss: Girlfriends, directed by Roman Polák
- 2006 / Thália Theatre/Thália Színház / costume design / Molière: The Miser, directed by Imre Csiszár
- 2006 / State Theatre Košice / stage and costume design / Miro Gavran: All about Men, directed by Dušan Bajin
- 2006 / Slovak National Theatre Bratislava / stage design / Neil LaBute: The Mercy Seat, directed by Vladimír Strnisko
- 2006 / Thália Theatre/Thália Színház Košice / costume design / William Somerset Maugham: Home and Beauty, directed by Károly Korognai
- 2007 / Studio L+S Bratislava / stage design / Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt: Partners in Crime, directed by Vladimír Strnisko
- 2007 / Slovak National Theatre Bratislava / stage design / Peter Pavlac: Partybr(e)akers, directed by Patrik Lančarič
- 2007 / a. ha Theatre Bratislava / stage and costume design / Anton Korenči Jr. – Martin Kaprálik: Hansel and Gretel, or the Candy House, directed by Štefan Korenči
- 2007 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Gabriela Preissová: Jenufa, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2007 / Thália Theatre/Thália Színház Košice / stage and costume design / Neil Simon: The Odd Couple, directed by Károly Korognai
- 2007 / Thália Theatre/Thália Színház Bratislava / costume design / Zoltán Egressy: Charitable, directed by Sándor Beke
- 2007 / State Theatre Košice / stage design / Federico García Lorca: The House of Bernarda Alba, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2007 / Thália Theatre/Thália Színház Bratislava / stage and costume design / Géza Csáth: Janík, directed by Sándor Korognai
- 2008 / Thália Theatre/Thália Színház Bratislava / stage design / Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol: The Inspector General, directed by Štefan Korenči
- 2008 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / István Örkény: Cat Play, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2008 / Thália Theatre/Thália Színház Košice / costume design / István Zágon – Károly Nóti – Mihály Eismann: Hyppolit, the Valet, directed by Károly Korognai
- 2008 / State Theatre Košice / stage design / Jozef Cíger Hronský: The Adventures of the Bold Bunny, directed by Dušan Bajin
- 2008 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / František Vlček – Bořivoj Zeman: The Incredibly Sad Princess, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2008 / ASTORKA Korzo ‘90 Theatre Bratislava / stage and costume design / A Day in Europe, directed by Patrik Lančarič
- 2008 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Ödön von Horváth: Faith, Hope, and Charity, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2008 / Thália Theatre/Thália Színház Košice / costume design / Peter Shaffer: Equus, directed by Imre Csiszár
- 2009 / Jozef Gregor Tajovský Theatre in Zvolen / stage and costume design / Biljana Srbljanović: America II, directed by Srdjan Sekicki
- 2009 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Ray Cooney: Funny Money, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2009 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Otfried Preussler: The Little Witch, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2009 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Gabo Dušík: Marie Antoinette, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2010 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Bonsoir
- 2010 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Patrick Marber: Don Juan in Soho, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2010 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Ulrich Hub: Meet at the Ark at Eight, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2011 / New Stage Theatre Bratislava / stage design / Frank Lyman Baum: The Wizard of Oz, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2011 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Anton Pavlovich Chekhov: The Seagull, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2012 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Tracy Letts: Killer Joe, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2012 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Willy Russell: Blood Brothers, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2012 / Andrej Bagar Theatre in Nitra / stage design / Carlo Goldoni: The Shrewd Widow, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2013 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / costume design / Friedrich Dürrenmatt: The Visit, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2013 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Michal Náhlík – Juraj Haško – Róbert Mankovecký – Renata Ptačin: Sherlock Holmes, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2014 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Peter Shaffer: Amadeus, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2014 / ASTORKA Korzo ’90 Theatre Bratislava / stage design / Marie Jones: Stones in His Pockets, directed by Patrik Lančarič
- 2014 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / costume design / Michal Náhlík: The Snow Queen, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2014 / ASTORKA Korzo ’90 Theatre Bratislava / stage design / Peter Pavlac: Einstein’s Wife, directed by Patrik Lančarič
- 2015 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Joe Masteroff – John Kander – Fred Ebb: Cabaret, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2015 / New Stage Theatre Bratislava / stage design / Peter Shaffer: Equus, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2015 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Vahé Katcha – Julien Sibre: Le Repas des Fauves, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2015 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Michal Náhlík – Martin Husovský – Róbert Mankovecký – Renata Ptačin: Joan of Arc, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2015 / Prešov National Theatre / stage and costume design / Michaela Zakuťanská: Good Place to Die, directed by Júlia Rázusová
- 2016 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage and costume design / Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol: The Inspector General, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2016 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Mikhail Afanasievich Bulgakov: Heart of a Dog, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2017 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage collaboration / Alexey Nikolayevich Tolstoy: The Extraordinary Adventures of Young Buratino, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2017 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Michal Náhlík – Martin Husovský – Viliam Mikula: Nikola Šuhaj, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2018 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage and costume design / Martin McDonagh: Hangmen, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2018 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage and costume design / Michal Náhlík, based on the story by the Brothers Grimm: Little Red Riding Hood, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2019 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage and costume design / Henry Lewis – Jonathan Sayer – Henry Shields: The Play That Goes Wrong, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2019 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage and costume design / János Háy: The Puppy, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2019 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage and costume design / Peter Stone – Jule Styne – Bob Merrill: Sugar, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2020 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage and costume design / William Goldman: Misery, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2020 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage design / Andrew Lloyd Webber – Tim Rice: Jesus Christ Superstar, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2021 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage and costume design / Laura Wade: Home, I’m Darling, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2021 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage and costume design / David Seidler: The King’s Speech, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2021 / Jókai Theatre Komárno / stage design / Schwechtje Mihály: The Legacy, directed by Karol Rédli
- 2022 / Jókai Theatre Komárno / stage design / Kálmán Mikszáth – Róbert Lakatos – Róbert Laboda: The Talking Cloak, directed by Tomás Gál
- 2022 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage and costume design / Kamila Hladká: Miners’ Widows, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2022 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage and costume design / Chris Priestley: Uncle Montague’s Tales of Terror, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2022 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage and costume design / Alexis Michalik: Edmond, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2023 / Spiš Theatre, Spišská Nová Ves / stage and costume design / Meggie W. Wrightt: The Hypochondriac Club, directed by Michal Náhlík
- 2023 / Jókai Theatre Komárno / stage design / László Dés – Péter Geszti – Krisztián Grecsó: Boys from Pavlovska Street, directed by Karol Rédli
- 2023 / Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov / stage and costume design / Fred Ebb – Bob Fosse – John Kander: Chicago, directed by Michal Náhlík