Voyage: the international French theatre festival in Pécs celebrates its 35th anniversary

The Festival de Théâtre des Lycéens Francophones (FTLF) is being organised for the 35th time by former and current students and teachers from the bilingual French-Hungarian section of the Klára Leőwey secondary school. This festival is not just a school event; it is now organised by a team linked to the University of Pécs (PTE). Thanks to the joint efforts of current students, doctoral students and experts from the university, Pécs will once again become the international centre of the French-speaking world between 19 and 22 March.

The theme of this anniversary edition is ‘Voyage’. This theme goes beyond the simple distance measured in kilometres: the conferences explore the inner paths of self-knowledge, migration between generations and interoperability between cultures on stage E78 in the Zsolnay district.

However, as part of the preparations for this anniversary edition, it is important to remember the foundations of the festival: without the dedicated work and vision of Professor Éva Vatai, this festival would never have seen the light of day. It is her commitment that has enabled the FTLF to become not only a one-off initiative, but also an internationally renowned cultural gathering that connects generations and has been a landmark for French-speaking communities in Pécs and Europe for decades.

Some of the organisers deepened their knowledge during their university years in Pécs and are now reinvesting this intellectual and community capital in the festival.

Dóra Dudley, who graduated from the University of Pécs and is currently a final-year psychology student, aptly described the interconnection between these two environments: "Both the university and the FTLF have played a defining role in my life. They have enriched my years in Pécs with unforgettable experiences, deep friendships, and opportunities for professional development. For me, the common experience in both environments was that the bonds created by culture – whether through language, theatre, shared interests or science – can give rise to particularly strong, lasting and deep human relationships. [...] My communication skills, organisational and problem-solving abilities, and the resourcefulness required in different situations have all developed in this environment. I believe that without them, my current professional knowledge would not have developed to this extent and the skills that enabled me to persevere with and complete my university studies would not have been strengthened."

For many, the experience gained at the FTLF paved the way for PTE University courses and professional recognition. Máté Szijártó, a prominent member of the organising team, received the University Culture Award in 2024, about which he said: "The University Culture Award I received in April 2024 was given to me largely for my work as an organiser and director at the FTLF. The organisational and voluntary work I have done within the FTLF has always allowed me to step outside the university environment, where I have had the opportunity to put into practice effective and fruitful communication with younger generations and foreign artists. As an organiser, I am happy to see the joy on the students' faces after each successful performance and to know that we have helped them have unforgettable experiences in Pécs. "

The strength of the festival lies in its continuity: yesterday's students become today's organisers. Zalán Póla, currently a student of mathematics and French at the University of Pécs, is following a similar path: "I participated in the FTLF as an artist in my third year, then as an organiser in my second year, and this year, alongside my university studies, I am also involved in the organisation. I really like the atmosphere there, and the experiences I've had there have inspired me to choose this subject as part of my teacher training. It's a rare gem to have a French theatre festival like this in a provincial town that attracts groups from abroad. This is where I had my first conversations in French outside of school, which helped me a lot in learning the language.

Laura Lukács, French teacher at the Leőwey Klára High School in Pécs and doctoral student at the Doctoral School of Literature and Cultural Studies at the University of Pécs, notes that the organisation is made possible by a collective effort from the bilingual French-Hungarian community:"How could it succeed otherwise than through the combined strength of former and current French students, parents, former and current teachers? [...] We organise fundraisers, we launch calls for projects, we organise community collections, we look for host families for foreign troupes, we paint sets, we design logos, we rehearse, we prepare long and meticulously for these four days of celebration. All of this is a huge effort that can only be done together.

The FTLF organisers, who themselves come from the international community at PTE University, are placing particular emphasis this year on opening the festival to all French-speaking residents of the city. Iván Király, who has been participating in the festival since his third year, invites the public to attend: "Every year, this festival is different, with a new look and a new atmosphere, but the vibe always remains the same: friendly and welcoming. I recommend that everyone support the festival, because few Hungarian cities can boast their own French theatre festival that is known throughout Europe. If you can, come and spend some time at the festival, whether you speak French or not, because the language of theatre is universal!"

Practical information for visitors:

Date: 19 to 22 March 2026
Venues: Zsolnay Cultural Quarter (E78), Klára Leőwey High School
Admission: performances in Hall E78 are open to the general public

Join us on 19 March for the opening ceremony! Come and discover how Pécs becomes a meeting place for international dialogue and the magic of theatre for four days.

A bientôt !

Author: Hanna Leemans
Photos: FTLF