"This performance made me think and reflect on myself. It moved these texts beyond mere recitation, making them sound like thoughts being born in the moment. It touched me deeply." This week, the 200th festive performance of I Am Not, Only Others See Me, based on the writings of József Attila, was held in Budapest, at the Kelet Café and Gallery. From the very first moment, the audience’s attentive presence and deep emotional resonance with the performance were clearly felt. During the post-performance conversation, we reflected on themes such as homelessness, the search for identity, trauma, loneliness, exclusion, and the timeless relevance of the emotions expressed in Attila’s poetry. It was inspiring to realize that through these texts, we were actually speaking about ourselves. We are grateful for the heartfelt attention, for the personal reflections shared during the discussion, for the joint celebration and toasts, and for the love and warm wishes we received!

"This performance made me rethink József Attila’s texts. It was deeply personal and fully immersive." The fifth stop of our Attila120 European tour took place in Ljubljana, where we performed I Am Not, Only Others See Me, based on the texts of József Attila, at the Liszt Institute. From the very first moment, the audience’s attention and emotional resonance with the performance were clearly felt. During the post-performance discussion, we talked about themes such as homelessness, searching for identity, trauma, loneliness, exclusion, and how József Attila’s poetry remains deeply relevant today. It was powerful to discover that through these texts, we were actually speaking about ourselves. We are deeply grateful for the attentive presence, the heartfelt reflections shared afterward, and to the Liszt Institute for their warm hospitality and organization.

"This performance—the form, the delivery—created an intimacy that is present in József Attila’s poetry. It built everything from nothing. The acting was outstanding. It truly enchanted us." The second Florentine stop on our Attila120 European tour took place at the Coop, where we presented I Am Not, Only Others See Me, a performance based on the texts of József Attila. The atmosphere was dense with emotion, and it was clear how Attila’s words touched everyone—each person found something deeply personal in the performance. The depth and sincerity of the post-performance conversation left a lasting impression. We are grateful for this evening with the audience—it truly became a shared celebration. Special thanks to Associazione Culturale Italo-Ungherese della Toscana for initiating and organizing the event, and to our partners Cesvot, Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco, Informatore, and Forlilpsi for their collaboration.

"There is a healing power in the way this performance is constructed and carried by the actor. The bitterness of that historical period truly comes through—and sadly, it still feels very relevant. But this performance offers a sense of release." The third stop of our Attila120 European tour took place at Palazzo Coppini in Florence, where we celebrated József Attila’s 120th birthday and Hungarian Poetry Day with our performance I Am Not, Only Others See Me, based on his texts. This performance was special, as it was the first time we presented the piece with foreign-language subtitles—for the Italian-speaking audience, the text was projected in Italian. We were very pleased to hear the feedback: even with subtitles, the performance was emotionally engaging and deeply meaningful. During the post-performance discussion, the texts opened the door to speak about ourselves and to reflect on the continuing relevance of József Attila’s poetry. Themes such as poverty, marginalization, exclusion, societal pressure, and the difficulties of our present time were discussed. We are grateful for the collective reflection, curiosity, and engagement—and that this evening truly became a celebration. Special thanks to Associazione Culturale Italo-Ungherese della Toscana for initiating and organizing the event, and to our partners Cesvot, Palazzo Coppini, Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco, Informatore, and Forlilpsi.

"The performance felt very personal—it drew us in, and we could sense the background of József Attila and his writings and poems." The first stop of our Attila120 European tour was the Zrínyi Miklós High School in Zalaegerszeg, where we performed I Am Not, Only Others See Me, based on the texts of József Attila, for graduating students. From the very beginning, the students’ focused attention and emotional connection with the depth of the performance were clearly felt. During the post-performance discussion, we explored themes such as homelessness, searching for identity, trauma, loneliness, exclusion, and the ongoing relevance of the emotions expressed in József Attila’s texts. It was powerful to discover that, through these poems, we were essentially speaking about ourselves. We are grateful for the engaged attention, the openness, the curiosity, and the personal reflections shared after the performance. Thank you for the invitation!

"I never liked József Attila before, but this performance really helped me understand his poems better and see the background of his texts and his life more clearly. This performance was very human." On Wednesday morning, we presented our performance I Am Not, Only Others See Me, based on the texts of József Attila, twice at the Szent Gellért Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Budapest. Presented as a classroom performance, this unconventional literature class provided the perfect setting for students to explore the poet’s life and writings and to reflect further on their meanings. From the beginning, the students' attention and resonance with the emotional depth of the performance were clearly felt. During the post-performance discussion, we explored topics such as homelessness, the search for identity, trauma, loneliness, exclusion, and how József Attila’s emotions are still relevant today. We are grateful for the school’s trust, the students’ openness, and the many personal reflections shared during the discussion. It was powerful to witness how relevant József Attila’s words remain for today’s youth.

"This performance took me back to József Attila’s time. It felt like I was sitting beside him and he was telling me his life story—I could see his emotions. It touched me deeply." The final stop of our Attila120 European tour took place in Osijek, Croatia, where we presented I Am Not, Only Others See Me, based on the texts of József Attila, to the students of the Hungarian Educational and Cultural Centre of Croatia. As a classroom performance and unconventional literature lesson, it offered the perfect environment for exploring and rethinking the poet’s life and work. During the post-performance conversation, Attila’s texts opened the door to discussions about poverty, marginalization, societal pressure, exclusion, and the emotional challenges of facing the future. We are truly grateful for the students’ attentive presence, their openness, and the personal reflections shared. It was a moving and meaningful conclusion to this journey.

"This performance had incredible power. The whole time, I felt as though I were having a conversation with József Attila. It was a profound experience." The fourth stop of our Attila120 European tour took place in Bologna, where we presented I Am Not, Only Others See Me, based on the texts of József Attila, at the Centro Interculturale Zonarelli. As with previous stops, the performance included subtitles in Italian, allowing the local audience to follow and emotionally connect with the material. We were especially pleased to hear that, even with subtitles, the performance was deeply engaging and meaningful. During the post-performance discussion, we reflected on personal themes evoked by Attila’s texts—poverty, marginalization, societal pressure, isolation, and the emotional challenges of envisioning the future. We are thankful for the warm welcome and organization by Aciuer – Associazione Culturale Italo-Ungherese.

The 200th presentation of the Osonó Theatre's production of Attila József's texts On 23 April at 7 pm, the 200th festive performance of Osonó Theatre's production titled I don't exist, only others see me, composed of texts by Attila József, will take place in Budapest at Kelet Café and Gallery. Since its premiere on 21 February 2022, the production has been presented in 57 cities across 11 countries, both as an unconventional literature lesson, classroom and studio theatre performance. The 55-minute monodrama, based on the texts of Attila József, searches for the topicality and evocability of the poet's oeuvre, while the subsequent conversation gives the performance the opportunity to become a real dialogue. Performed by Oszkár Mucha and directed by Misi Fazakas, the texts recited in the performance are not only lyrical works, but also thoughts reborn in the present tense as a pretext. The poems will be accompanied by fragments from the poet's autobiography and from A Collection of Free Associations.

"This performance showed me a different side of József Attila. I never really liked his poems before, but now you’ve revealed such delicate layers in these texts that I experienced something truly profound." The second stop of our Attila120 European tour took place in Graz, where GUT – Grazer Ungarisches Theater hosted our performance I Am Not, Only Others See Me, based on the writings of József Attila. From the very beginning, the audience’s attention and emotional connection to the performance were palpable. During the post-performance discussion, we explored themes such as homelessness, the search for identity, trauma, loneliness, isolation, and the contemporary relevance of the emotions in Attila’s work. It was powerful to realize that through his texts, we were actually speaking about ourselves. We are deeply grateful for the attentive audience, for the personal thoughts shared after the performance, and to GUT for their warm hospitality and generous organization. We truly experienced a Meeting through Theater.

"I really enjoyed this performance because it wasn’t just reciting poems—it jumped straight into the essence, it drew me in, moved me, and gave me the chance to rediscover and reinterpret these József Attila poems. Some of them, I truly understood for the first time today." In recent days, we presented our performance I Am Not, Only Others See Me, based on the texts of József Attila, at the Ötpacsirta Salon of the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library. It was uplifting to meet such attentive, curious, and thoughtful audience members. We experienced a true Meeting through Theater. The post-performance discussion brought forth profound and meaningful reflections. The freshness of Attila’s texts allowed for open conversations about our own emotions and perspectives. Topics included homelessness, searching for identity, trauma, loneliness, isolation, exclusion, the lack of love, and how these experiences remain deeply relevant today. We are grateful for the personal thoughts shared and for the support of the Józsefváros Municipality, which made this event possible.

"I really liked this performance. It felt as though József Attila came back after his death and told the story of his life." On Monday, we presented our performance I Am Not, Only Others See Me, based on the texts of József Attila, twice at the Magyar Gyula Horticultural Technical School and Vocational Training Institute. The classroom setting provided the perfect environment to explore the poet’s life and writings, and to reflect on them further. During the post-performance discussion, profound thoughts emerged. The freshness of Attila’s texts allowed us to speak about our own emotions and view of the world. We discussed homelessness, the search for identity, trauma, loneliness, isolation, exclusion, and the lack of love—acknowledging how present these situations and feelings still are today. We are grateful for the invitation, the focused attention, and the personal thoughts shared during the discussion.