Year of foundation: 1993

Last performance: 2025

Next performance: 2026

Playing interval: Annual

Performances per interval: 6

Venue type: Outdoor

Number of contributors: 160

Website: www.magyarpolany.hu

E-Mail: polgarmester@magyarpolany.hu

In the heart of Hungary, at the foot of the Bakony Hills, lies the village of Magyarpolány – a place where tradition and faith intertwine with community spirit in a truly unique way. For 32 years, the people of this small village, along with families from the surrounding area, have brought to life the story of Christ through their open-air Passion Play, performed on the slopes of the local Calvary Hill.

What makes the Magyarpolány Passion remarkable is not only its longevity, but its entirely community-based nature. With the exception of the role of Jesus – performed by Máté Incze, a professional actor – every role is played by volunteers who are residents of Magyarpolány or nearby villages. Families perform together, generations share the stage, and the village becomes a stage in itself.

Since 2022, the production has taken on a renewed form under the title “The Way of Light”. This reinterpretation focuses not solely on the suffering of Christ, but on His teachings, His wisdom, and His resurrection – offering audiences a message of hope, love, and renewal.

The music, composed especially for the play by renowned Hungarian composer Gyula Szarka, brings a rich emotional depth to the scenes, while the visual design and lighting create an atmosphere that is both reverent and breathtaking – especially under the twilight of Pentecost evenings.

The Passion is not imposed from above; it is born from the communityitself. People participate not out of obligation, but out of joy. And perhaps this is what touches our audiences most: the authenticity. It is not only a Passion about Christ – it is about us. About the strength of coming together. About faith that is lived, not just spoken.

The Magyarpolány Passion welcomes all visitors with open hearts – whether from nearby parishes or from across Europe. They believe that the true Passion is not only told, but shared.

Magyarpolány