British author Julia Donaldson and German-born, UK-based illustrator Axel Scheffler, one of the most successful creative duos in contemporary children’s literature, are coming to Budapest as guests of the Budapest Festival Orchestra (BFO) and Pagony Publishing. Their visit comes on the heels of the BFO’s fall debut of Iván Fischer’s children’s opera The Gruffalo for Hungarian audiences. The two artists will attend a performance on November 8. The opera and the conversation with its creators afterward will be livestreamed on the orchestra’s Instagram channel and Iván Fischer’s Instagram channel. Hungarian readers will have their first opportunity to meet the artists whose stories and illustrations have captivated children and adults around the world.
Their books have reached millions of readers, and generations of children have grown up with their stories. The arrival of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is a special occasion for Hungarian readers: The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, and Monkey Puzzle are beloved family favorites and formative reading experiences for many children. Their latest book, The Gruffalo Granny, was recently published in Hungarian alongside its original English edition.
Julia Donaldson’s rhyming stories are favorites with children and parents around the world. Her rhythmic, humorous, language-rich writing is a joy to read aloud – and it’s no wonder young readers ask to hear the stories again and again. Axel Scheffler’s distinctive, richly detailed, wonderfully funny illustrations are inseparable from Donaldson’s tales. His characters have come to life not only in books, but also in films, stage productions, and toys.
In Hungary, most of Julia Donaldson’s books are published by Pagony Publishing. The Hungarian editions feature translations by Gábor Zsigmond Papp, who captures the energy of the rhymes and the playful humor of the original texts.
Their books have been translated into more than 100 languages worldwide. The Gruffalo, a huge favorite in Hungary as well, is a particularly striking example of the duo’s success: the first two books in the series have sold more than 18 million copies combined. In this reassuring tale about overcoming fear, a tiny mouse outwits the much larger and stronger creatures of the forest – and even the monster he has invented himself. The story has become a true classic of British children’s culture, one that many young children know by heart.
Iván Fischer, Music Director of the Budapest Festival Orchestra, adapted the story into a humorous children’s opera at the invitation of the Konzerthaus Berlin. Hungarian audiences saw the production for the first time on October 17, directed by Eszter Novák, with a Hungarian translation by Ádám Nádasdy and Róbert Farkas as musical director. Offering an ideal first opera experience for children, the production features Benjamin Rózsa as the Gruffalo and Julia Fujita as the Mouse.
Budapest Events
During their visit to Budapest, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler will take part in several events.
November 7, 10 a.m. — Both artists will meet readers at the Petőfi Literary Museum. The joint event organized by Pagony and the museum will feature a book signing, arts and crafts activities, readings, and a conversation with the authors.
November 8, 10 a.m. — Axel Scheffler will be a guest at the Goethe-Institut Budapest. Visitors can enjoy a book signing, a craft workshop, and a reading. Scheffler will also offer a behind-the-scenes look at how the Gruffalo was created, as part of a joint event organized by the Goethe-Institut Budapest and Pagony.
November 8, 4:30 p.m. — Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler will join Iván Fischer at the Budapest Festival Orchestra’s rehearsal venue to watch a performance of The Gruffalo. The performance will be livestreamed on the orchestra’s Instagram channel and Iván Fischer’s Instagram channel. After the performance, Fischer will sit down with the creative duo for a conversation, which audiences can also watch live on the same channels. The day will conclude with a reception in their honor at the residence of Justin McKenzie Smith, the British Ambassador to Hungary.
All events are sold out.
