Featured Theater Plays of the Season
Büyük Zarifi Apartmanı (Grand Zarifi Apartment) | Source: Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV)
With the opening of the theater season, both sides of Istanbul continue to be popular destinations for art lovers. Throughout the city, adaptations of the world-renowned classics and plays by young and talented writers greet the audience on the theater stage. In October, the art world hosts the 27th Istanbul Theater Festival, featuring an intriguing program for the audience seeking new discoveries. The festival, where many performers and theater companies from around the world will present their plays for the first time in Turkey, brings together a total of 9 productions from Germany, UK, Denmark, France, Georgia, Ireland, Israel, and Greece. On the other hand, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) City Theaters will start the new season in October with a wide selection of plays adapted from literary classics.
Alongside the plays featured in the 27th Istanbul Theater Festival, which is distinguished by its rich program, we have compiled a list of notable plays from various playhouses, including productions from IBB City Theaters, with productions that are preparing to open their curtains for the first time and works that have been brought to the stage for the first time this month.
Newcomers of the Season...
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“Shakespeare in Love” Written by: Marc Norman & Tom Stoppard |
Written by British playwright and screenwriter Tom Stoppard and American screenwriter and author Marc Norman, "Shakespeare in Love", which won 7 Oscars including Best Picture, is meeting the Turkish audience on the theater stage for the first time with the same name. Directed by Serdar Biliş, the play stands out with its extensive cast of 70 people. Starring Uraz Kaygılaroğlu as William Shakespeare and Nezaket Erden as Viola, the production includes accomplished actors such as Şebnem Sönmez, Kerem Arslanoğlu, Merve Polat, Ceren Taşçı, and Ekrem Can Arslandağ.
A co-production of Çolpan İlhan & Sadri Alışık Theater, Piu Entertainment, and Zorlu PSM, “Shakespeare in Love can be seen at Zorlu PSM throughout the season.
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“True West” |
Providing a fresh perspective on Sam Shepard’s play “True West”, the play has been contemporized under the direction of Mert Öner. The play narrates the story of two brothers—one an urban, educated screenwriter, and the other a free-spirited thief seeking refuge in the woods—discovering each other and undergoing a transformative exchange. Serhat Teoman and Buğra Gülsoy, portraying the two brothers in this one-act play, are accompanied by Burak Sarımola and Ayşe Lebriz Berkem.
Premiered at Zorlu PSM, the play is scheduled for performances on October 8 at Zorlu PSM, October 14 at Caddebostan Cultural Center, and twice on the same day, October 21 at Fişekhane.
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“The Reunification of the Two Koreas” Written by: Joël Pommerat |
Written by Joël Pommerat, translated into Turkish by Mine Çerçi, and directed by Kemal Aydoğan, the play “The Reunification of the Two Koreas” is now meeting theater lovers at Moda Sahnesi. The cast of the play, which revolves around stories about relationships, includes Neriman Uğur, Levent Tülek, Sedat Kalkavan, Asiye Dinçsoy, Reyhan Özdilek, Melek Ceylan, and Damla Pehlevan. With the stage positioned in the middle of the hall, the play, allowing the audience to watch from two separate tribunes facing each other, also stands out with its music.
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“The Bald Soprano” |
The play “The Bald Soprano”, written by Eugène Ionesco and directed by Muharrem Özcan, is set to be presented to the audience at Oyun Atölyesi in the new season. Zuhal Olcay and Haluk Bilginer, who are gearing up to share the same stage again after a long hiatus, will be joined by Özlem Zeynep Dinsel, Yiğit Özşener, Gözde Kırgız, and Kıvanç Kılınç in the cast of the play.
“The Bald Soprano” will be staged for theater enthusiasts at Oyun Atölyesi and various venues, including Maximum UNIQ Hall and Zorlu PSM, starting from October 22nd.
Plays Reopening Their Curtains...
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“Amadeus” Written by: Peter Shaffer |
Written by Peter Shaffer and directed by Işıl Kasapoğlu, “Amadeus” is back on stage for its 5th season. Starring Selçuk Yöntem and Tansu Biçer, the play narrates the unforgettable story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, the iconic composers of music history. With a 70-member cast, the play also features seasoned performers such as Dilan Çiçek Deniz, Özlem Öçalmaz, Coşkun Ülgen, Kevork Türker, Sabri Özmener, and Yiğit Pakmen.
Winner of the “Haldun Dormen Special Award” at the 2022 Afife Theater Awards and numerous other awards in different categories, “Amadeus” will entertain theatergoers at various venues such as Zorlu PSM and Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM) in Istanbul, starting October 7.
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“A Matter of the Soul” Written by: Ingmar Bergman |
The monologue play “A Matter of the Soul”, adapted from Ingmar Bergman’s script to the theater stage, will raise its curtain at the Istanbul State Theater starting October 3. The play, featuring Zeynep Erkekli in the role of “Victoria”, portrays a woman’s existential reckoning in life. Victoria, who escapes from reality and seeks refuge in her dreams, awakens from her dreams and confronts reality, and narrates the tales of her pain, happiness, losses, separations, unhappy marriage, family, and childhood. These stories concealed in her soul unfold as she journeys between dreams and life in her mind.
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“The Miser” Written by: Molière |
French comedy writer Molière’s timeless work “The Miser” continues to entertain theatergoers in the new season with Tansu Biçer’s interpretation and Serkan Keskin’s portrayal of “Harpagon”. As one of the oldest classics in the history of theater, “The Miser” has graced various stages numerous times with different actors. The Semaver Kumpanya’s rendition of “The Miser”, with its evolving cast and contemporary interpretation, is scheduled to meet the audience at Çevre Theater on October 6, marking its 8th season.
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“Sanctuary City” Written by: Martyana Majok |
Written by Martyna Majok and translated by Hira Tekindor, the play “Sanctuary City” delves into themes of selfishness, otherness, loneliness, and helplessness within the context of belonging. The play, directed and lighting-designed by İbrahim Çiçek, features Selin Şekerci, Uğur Uzunel, and Ulvi Kahyaoğlu, who breathe life into three characters with no names, homes, or anyone to trust.
“Sanctuary City”, a play for those yearning for much yet deprived, will continue to meet the audience at Craft Theater on October 15, 16, 22, 23, 30, and 31.
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“Tek Kullanımlık Hikaye” (A Disposable Story) Written by: Volkan Çıkıntoğlu |
The play “Tek Kullanımlık Hikaye” (A Disposable Story) by Kumbaracı50 introduces the audience to the lives of Melih, Cevdet, and Orhan, who, alongside their personal challenges, embrace the world’s issues in their daily routines with the motto “Everyone should have a story”. The narrative revolves around the urban transformation of their neighborhood and the evolving aspects of their lives, as the three young men contemplate the climate crisis and the challenges of shifting urban landscapes. In this play, written by Volkan Çıkıntoğlu and directed by Gülhan Kadim, the characters Melih, Cevdet, and Orhan are portrayed by İsmail Sağır, Meriç Rakalar, and Murat Kapu. “Tek Kullanımlık Hikaye” (A Disposable Story) skillfully weaves a globally important issue into the everyday existence of three young men residing in a small and ordinary neighborhood, providing an engaging example of storytelling.
Continuing its journey in the new season, the play “Tek Kullanımlık Hikaye” (A Disposable Story) is scheduled to be staged at Ara Sahne on October 14 and Baba Sahne on October 18.
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“Zengin Mutfağı” (The Rich One’s Kitchen) Written by: Vasıf Öngören |
Penned by Vasıf Öngören and premiered in 1978 at the Istanbul City Theaters, “Zengin Mutfağı” (The Rich One’s Kitchen) returns to the audience after 40 years, featuring Şener Şen in the role of “Lütfü Usta”. The play humorously depicts the social events of the Republican Era, utilizing the setting of a wealthy family’s kitchen. The mansion’s staff, initially solely focused on their duty to serve, find themselves unable to remain indifferent to the unfolding events. Starring Şener Şen alongside Gizem Ergün, Onay Kaya, Uğur Arda Başkan, and Kutay Sandıkçı, “Zengin Mutfağı” (The Rich One’s Kitchen) is scheduled to be staged at DasDas Sahne starting October 16th.
Overview of the 27th Istanbul Theater Festival
The 27th Istanbul Theater Festival, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV), will raise its curtains on October 25. Curated by Işıl Kasapoğlu, the festival will host a total of 20 theater, performance, and dance shows. Garnering attention for its diverse array of staging types and forms, the festival promises the audience a broad spectrum of works, spanning from documentary theater to classical stagings, from contemporary dance to mask theater, from puppet cinema to site-specific creations, and from dance theater to performative installations.
We have chosen three standout plays related to architecture, city life, and dance theater for you from the “27th Istanbul Theater Festival”, which will run until November 25th.
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“Büyük Zarifi Apartmanı” (Grand Zarifi Apartment) Written by: H. Can Utku, İlias Maroutsis |
Constructed by the Zarifi family, one of the wealthiest families of Istanbul during the reigns of Abdulaziz and Abdul Hamid II, the “Büyük Zarifi Apartmanı” (Grand Zarifi Apartment) has been transformed into a stage for fictional stories based on historical facts. Written by H. Can Utku and Ilias Maroutsis, and designed and directed by İlyas Özçakır, this site-specific project comprises two short plays that delve into the past of Istanbul Greeks up to the present day. The plays, offering an experimental performance blending the tools of cinema and theater, invite the audience to witness the rich history of not only an apartment building but also the city. Scheduled to meet the audience at “Büyük Zarifi Apartmanı” (Grand Zarifi Apartment) from November 1 to 5, the project is supported by the “IKSV 50th Anniversary Young Artist Fund”.
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“Café Müller” |
Pina Bausch’s masterpiece “Café Müller”, which redefined dance with a revolutionary approach in the 20th century and paved the way for dance theater to be recognized as a new genre, will be performed within the festival for the first time in Turkey by the current cast of the artist’s company Tanztheater Wuppertal as striking as the first day. The choreographer Pina Bausch, who has inspired numerous artists from Pedro Almodóvar to Robert Wilson, as well as the art enthusiasts worldwide, combines her revolutionary approach with a profound understanding of the human soul in this masterpiece. A simple yet striking dance theater, “Café Müller” narrates the story of desire and loneliness.
“Café Müller” will meet the audience at Zorlu PSM on October 25 and 26.
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“İstanbul Mon Amour” Project Director: Ahmet Sami Özbudak |
Işıl Kasapoğlu’s “Istanbul Mon Amour” project, inspired by Orhan Veli Kanık’s poem “İstanbul’u Dinliyorum” (I’m Listening to Istanbul) almost 30 years ago, continues to captivate the audience this year, much like it did at last year’s festival. In this edition, “Istanbul Mon Amour” invites the audience to experience a Beyoğlu infused with the enchantment of theater, crafted by Ahmet Sami Özbudak through his research, dreams, and creative collaborations with various artists. On this journey, three French high schools transform into stages with their halls, classrooms, and corridors. Experienced actors such as Meral Çetinkaya, Deniz Türkali, Bülent Emin Yarar, Okan Bayülgen, Çiçek Dilligil, along with young talents like Ayfer Dönmez, Canan Atalay, and Fehmi Karaarslan, will take the stage on November 25th with short plays inspired by true stories.
Overview of IBB City Stages
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) City Theaters have announced their program for the new 2023-2024 season. We have compiled three noteworthy plays from IBB City Theaters, which will kick off the season with a diverse repertoire in October:
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“The Crucible” Written by: Arthur Miller |
Written by Arthur Miller in 1952 based on real events, “The Crucible” will raise its curtains from October 11 to 21 with Sabahattin Eyüboğlu’s translation and Yiğit Sertdemir’s interpretation. Set in 1692 in the town of Salem in the USA, the play revolves around people accused of witchcraft, and the ensuing debates and tortures. In the play, the audience witnesses, on one hand, those who drag people to their deaths for their own interests, those in power who seek to destroy first the social life, then the law, and ultimately honor by exploiting the faith, and on the other hand, they observe a populace that has chosen either to be the cause of this or to be the bystanders.
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“Tartuffe” Written by: Molière |
Molière’s play “Tartuffe”, which unfolds the experiences of a wealthy man after welcoming a deceitful ascetic into his home against the advice of his family and those around him, is scheduled to grace the stage from October 25 to 28, 2023. Translated by Orhan Veli, the play incorporates songs composed from the author’s poems. “Tartuffe” interlaces themes of faith, family, love, gender differences, our past, our present, humor, music, pain, sadness, and disturbing moments, offering a dynamic and multifaceted theatrical experience.
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“Sen İstanbul’dan Daha Güzelsin” (You Are More Beautiful Than Istanbul) Written and Directed by: Murat Mahmutyazıcıoğlu |
Esin Umulu, Şebnem Köstem, and Yeliz Şatıroğlu portray three women from the same family in Murat Mahmutyazıcıoğlu’s play, “Sen İstanbul’dan Daha Güzelsin” (You Are More Beautiful Than Istanbul), rooted in the narrative tradition. The play, through narrative distance and exploration of its characters’ inner voices, unfolds the grievances of these three women from different generations who cannot articulate these grievances to each other in the ever-changing nature of a home. Over time, these distinct narratives converge into one, transforming into the collective story of “woman”.
“Sen İstanbul’dan Daha Güzelsin” (You Are More Beautiful Than Istanbul) is scheduled to be performed from October 11 to 21, 2023.
*Plays are listed in alphabetical order by categories.
