The ministry received five applications before the deadline and one late application. Among them was one joint application.
An evaluation committee made up of five to seven theatre professionals will be set up in a few days, the ministry said. The committee has 30 days in which to make a recommendation on the applicants to Hiller.
Hiller called the tender for applications in September to replace outgoing National Theatre director Tamás Jordán, who is leaving to set up a theatre in the city of Szombathely. The new director will work alongside Jordán until his mandate expires on June 30.
Hiller said earlier that the theatre's new director must not only meet the professional criteria for the post, he or she must also be prepared to oversee the reorganisation of the theatre, expected to take place in 2008.
In addition to maintaining the highest degree of professional excellence in the theatre's activities, the new director will be expected to raise the profile of the National Theatre internationally, Hiller said. He added that it was important to preserve the traditions of Hungarian theatre and maintain contacts with ethnic Hungarian theatres outside of Hungary's borders.
The mandate of the National Theatre's new director will run until the theatre's reorganisation is completed or July 31, 2013 at the latest, Hiller said.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
