…or dinner and a show all in one!
How can you attend an entertaining performance and have dinner at the same time? The answer lies in a genre that in Hungary can only be seen in pre-war films, where the performance takes place while the audience eats and drinks at tables, enjoying the show all the while.
In the 21st century, this genre is known as the Dinner Show, or dinner variety show.
What is a dinner show?
A dinner show is a seated dinner where, between courses, the audience is entertained by comedians, performers, dancers, and singers. It is important to note that, in the case of a dinner show, the audience remains seated in the same place throughout the event.
What is Dinner and Show?
For the Dinner and Show, guests first enjoy dinner at their tables, then proceed to the theater hall to watch the performance.
In 2019 and 2020, the Budapest Varieté at the Duna Palace was a Dinner and Show.
Dinner Show Traditions in Germany: The Mirror Tent
The dinner show is such a well-known and popular form of entertainment in Germany that several chains have sprung up, such as Teatro and Palazzo.
Palazzo welcomes guests throughout Germany in so-called Spiegel Tents. These Spiegeltents are tents built on an aluminum frame with a canvas roof, featuring a ceiling height of 7–8 meters and a diameter of 25–30 meters. They have wooden walls and are lined with mirrors on the inside. The tent can be heated very effectively even in winter, so performances can be held comfortably even in sub-zero temperatures. Box seats can also be placed inside the tent, and larger tents even feature a box.
The stage is located in the center of the circular tent, though sometimes the central stage is complemented by another stage on one side.
The central element of the Dinner Show is the dinner itself, which is associated with a renowned chef.
Dinner Show Schedule
The show and dinner begin with a welcome speech by the host, who is usually a comedian or perhaps a singer
. The host greets the guests, followed by an opening dance performance. At the end of the dance, the appetizer is announced, which the waiters bring in with a specific choreography. After the guests have finished the appetizer, a 30-40 minute segment follows featuring dance, music, and acrobatic acts, as well as a magician and a comedian. The performance segment is followed by another course, and the individual courses and performance segments alternate. After dessert, the grand finale follows. The special feature of the Dinner Show is its unique atmosphere, which stems from the venue’s design. The audience feels fully immersed in the production, as the performers showcase their acrobatics right before their eyes, and the magician, juggler, and singer work in close proximity. The performers can enter the central stage from multiple directions.
Performances in the Dinner Show
The stage layout also determines what kinds of acts can be included in a show. If the act allows it, the performance can even be presented in 360 degrees. Just imagine the special magic it adds to the act when the illusionist performs right before our eyes or the quick-change artist changes costumes in a flash! (We’re sure you’ll figure it out.)
In the case of acrobatic performances, ceiling height can be a limiting factor, but this is not always the case.
The Budapest Varieté: Dinner and Show
Hungary has yet to develop the technical infrastructure that would allow tables and service to be located in a single space, while performers, artists, and dancers also take the stage there. However, who knows how this revived genre will evolve if the audience takes a liking to the “Dinner and Show,” that is, the dinner variety show genre…?
A genuine dinner show at the Spirit Hotel featuring the stars of Budapest Varieté!
The internationally renowned troupe of the Budapest Varieté performed its “Dinner and Show” program in the form of a genuine, seated “Dinner Show”! The event was hosted by the Spirit Hotel Thermal Spa. The lineup of performers was slightly modified, as technical constraints (room ceiling height) did not allow for the performance of the diving board acrobats and aerialists’ acts; however, these were replaced with other high-quality performances. The sold-out Dinner Show at the Spirit Hotel was a huge success and will be repeated in 2021! Hungary’s first true Dinner Show!
Click: More photos from the Spirit Hotel Dinner Show
The creators of Budapest Varieté, Sebastian and Kristina, in dinner shows
It is no coincidence that the producers and managers of Budapest Varieté know so much about this unique genre of show business: they themselves have performed in countless dinner shows.
Here is a video recording of one of their dinner show performances: