László Marton (born 6 January 1943) is a contemporary theatre director. Marton is the artistic director of the Vígszínház and professor of the University of Theatre, Film and Television in Budapest. Marton is known for directing classics through a new lens and his productions have been seen in more than 40 cities throughout the world.
His work has received rave reviews, and he is Honorary Member of the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Marton has earned three Dora Mavor Moore Awards for his Chekhov productions in Toronto, for Masterclass Theatre and for Soulpepper Theatre Company, and the Irish Times Theatre Award as Best Director for The Wild Duck, a production he directed for the Abbey Theatre (National Theatre of Ireland) in Dublin.
Early life and education
Marton was born in Budapest, Hungary, to Ilona Keresztes, a graduate of École hôtelière de Lausanne and László Marton, Sr., a representative for a Hungarian foreign trade company. He is also related to Golden Globe Award winner Hollywood movie director Andrew Marton. Marton's interest in theatre took root early in his life, and he was first introduced to the world of opera by his godfather, Hungarian conductor, János Ferencsik. Marton attended the Secondary School of the Piarist Fathers and graduated from the University of Theatre, Film and Television in Budapest in 1967. In the same year, at the age of twenty-four he staged his first professional play at the Vígszínház, in Budapest, where he became artistic director in 1987.
Some of his most important theatrical works include a new adaptation of Chekhov's Platonov, (by Marton and Susan Coyne) for Soulpepper Theatre Company in Toronto, and productions of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya for Soulpepper Theatre Company in Toronto and Playmakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with set and costume designer Michael Levine. In celebration of their 10th anniversary in 2008, (Celebrating 10 Years of history's greatest plays 1998-2008) Soulpepper Theatre Company revived Marton's Production of Uncle Vanya.
In 2003 Marton directed a new adaptation of Ibsen's The Wild Duck by Frank McGuinness for the The Peacock Theatre in Dublin and later for Soulpepper Theatre Company in Toronto. His production of Dance in Time for the Vígszínház was invited to the Abbey Theatre's centenary programme in 2004. A year later he directed a production of A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen for the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, in a new version by McGuinness.
Marton's productions of great emotional resonance are highly acclaimed by critics for revealing a deep psychological intimacy and bringing new life to classics. An actress said that working with him is "incredibly demanding but he's incredibly kind as well. It just creates an atmosphere where it feels safe to risk things".
Productions
The Art of Comedy – The Silk Hat (1967) – Vígszínház, Budapest
The Kiss (1968) – Pesti Theatre, Budapest
Can you speak Spanish? (1968) – Vígszínház, Budapest
Love, Closed in the Cupboard (1969) – Pesti Theatre, Budapest
For How Long Can One Be an Angel? (1969) – Pesti Theatre, Budapest
Theatre (1969) – Vígszínház, Budapest
Cinderella (1969) – Bartók Children’s Theatre, Budapest
Napoleon and Napoleon (1970) – Vígszínház, Budapest
