The Tóths: A World War II Tragicomedy Exploring Power and Survival

Set during World War II in a quiet Hungarian village, the play is a tragicomedy that explores how ordinary people cope with power, fear, and survival. The story follows the Tóth family, whose son is serving at the front. To protect him, the family agrees to host his commanding officer, a Major, at their home while he is on leave. What begins as a gesture of hospitality slowly turns into a psychological ordeal. The Major is mentally unstable, obsessively controlling, and deeply insecure. Yet the family endures his increasingly bizarre and humiliating demands, believing that keeping him happy might safeguard their son’s life.

Production and Direction

Director Santanu Bose has created over 50 theatre pieces and serves as Dean Academics at NSD. In this production, the play is staged as Tanztheater, where movement replaces psychology and the body becomes the first site of submission. The production leans into the theatre of the absurd, with choreography illustrating the obedience demanded by power.

Cultural Collaboration

The Liszt Institute in Delhi, serving as the Hungarian Cultural Centre, promotes Hungarian culture, arts, education, and cultural exchange abroad. Founded in 1978, it aims to strengthen cultural, scientific, educational, and artistic ties between Hungary and India.