school dramas

This genre became popular mainly in the 17th century, but it is indubitable that dramas were already being performed in Hungarian schools in the 16th century. The first play we know about was the Debrecen dispute, a theological drama, performed in a school in Kolozsvár in April, 1572. In all probability the author was the Unitarian György Válaszúti. The play, full of satirical elements, tried to mock Péter Melius Juhász - also known as Pope Peter -, a Calvinist preacher from Debrecen. A drama of Biblical topic was also performed in Kolozsvár in 1575: Three young Men in a Hot Oven was based on the book of Daniel. These Biblical plays were quite popular in Protestant schools, as well as in Lutheran, Calvinist and Unitarian institutions. Later, from the 17th century the development of Catholic schools lead to a boom in this genre, especially in monastic schools: Jesuit, Franciscan, Paulian and Minorite playing was rather significant, but we also know about plays performed in seminars for secular priests.

ÁP-SzJú