Nóra Trokán’s “Mielőtt” photo exhibition on view in Szeged

NewsCulture

Jul 12

Hungarian actress and photographer Nóra Trokán opened her new photo exhibition, Mielőtt (Before), at the REÖK Regional Art Centre in Szeged on Friday, July 11. The show features more than 40 black-and-white portraits of actors, capturing the tense, vulnerable moments before they step on stage.

The exhibition was inaugurated by László Barnák, director general of the Szeged National Theater, who praised Trokán’s ability to reveal the emotional intensity of performers as they prepare for their roles. Barnák, an actor and director himself, said the photographs offer a rare glimpse into the transformation process, making visible what is usually impossible to describe.

Trokán, who has been passionate about photography since childhood, first published these intimate backstage portraits in a 2021 photo book. Speaking at the opening, she said Szeged holds a special place in her heart since the 2023 premiere of the musical One Thousand and One Nights, and she expressed delight at the chance to exhibit her work in the city.

She described the exhibition as an effort to reshape the familiar genre of backstage portraits through her own perspective, aiming to capture the raw, unguarded states of fellow actors. Her images feature well-known figures, from rising talents to award–winning performers – including her parents, Athina Papadimitriu and Péter Trokán – all captured in the fleeting moment of becoming their characters.

Admission to Before is free for visitors with tickets to this season’s Szeged Open-Air Festival performances, reinforcing the Szeged National Theater’s commitment to connecting the arts under its umbrella. The exhibition runs through August 20 at the Reök Palace in Szeged.