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A single moment of theater can give a lifetime of experience, growth and development, Oscar and Golden Globe-winning actor Tim Robbins said at a press conference on Monday at the Csokonai Theater in Debrecen, where he and his 24-member company began rehearsals for their production of Topsy Turvy.

    His company, The Actors' Gang, will be in town for two nights on September 18 and 19 to perform the play, written by the Hollywood actor during the coronavirus epidemic. It is set during the very pandemic: the story is about a choir whose members are prevented from meeting because of restrictions imposed to contain the pandemic.

    The choir is divided, some want to continue rehearsing in person (in secret), others want to remain compliant. Alongside the 'real' thread of the play, a metaphorical one emerges, with the Greek gods appearing, it was explained.

    Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Tim Robbins said that art and culture are fundamental and important to a nation.

    “Theater can lift people out of their sadness, it can motivate them to be better citizens and it can inspire future generations," the actor-director explained, noting that in theater, the truth is immediately revealed by audience feedback, which is not true of film.

    Perhaps the latter is the reason for the deteriorating quality of films today, he said.

    “You have to be honest, you have to tell the truth, if you don't, the audience will warn you,” Tim Robbins added.