Old Synagogue – ALTeRRA Contemporary Performance Center
Old Synagogue – ALTeRRA Contemporary Performance Center
The Classicist Old Synagogue was built in 1843, since the growing number of Jewish residents in the city needed a larger place of worship. Although the community had wished to begin construction in the 1930s, the city council did not grant them a permit. Therefore, they decided to trick the council: they have produced a medical report, which claimed that the former synagogue is mortally dangerous for worshippers – and the council yielded. The synagogue was planned similarly to the ones in Pest and Óbuda, in Classicist style. The construction took 3 years: pews were built on the lower level for men and a gallery was also created for women. Although renovated in 1857, the Great Flood of 1879 damaged it severely, rendering it dangerous to use. The inevitable renovation led to an increase in seats, and three apartments were also created. By the end of the 19th century, the construction of the New Synagogue began, which was done by 1903. With this new location, the Old Synagogue was used rarely, although it was renovated in 1906, and the surrounding area was lifted by 1.60 meters and the frontage was also reconstructed. Following World War I, two marble boards were placed on the frontage, commemorating fallen soldiers of Jewish background. The Jewish community of Szeged dramatically decreased in number after World War II, but the building was still in use, and the frontage was renovated in 1959. The city council bought the building from the community in 1977, with several different ideas on how to use it: at one point, they intended to move performances of the National Theater here, while its main building was being renovated, at another, they wished to turn it into a concert hall. These plans have failed, however, and the building was decaying year by year, there were no maintenance to speak of, besides minor roofing. In 1992, the city council has decided to renovate the Old Synagogue by December 21, 1994, with the intention of turning it into a multi-functional center, but mainly a theater hosting different guest performances. The Szeged-based MASZK Association had discovered the building in the spring of 1992, and with the help of volunteers, they turned it into a theatrical space, which has been known as ALTeRRA Contemporary Performance Center ever since. The first two, highly successful performances took place in the summer of 1992, and the building has been the main location of the annual THEALTER International Festival for Alternative Theater since then. In the past decades, more than 130 troupes have performed here from 27 countries, but an appropriate, all-encompassing renovation has not happened yet.
Facebook 
Twitter 
