Turkish Cypriot thespian Osman Balıkçıoğlu has made it his life’s mission to spread Turkish Cypriot culture to the younger generations and others interested in the heritage of his ethnic homeland. The Lefkoşa-born, London-based veteran actor and playwright’s career spans over 60 years. During this time, he has taken to the stage, and appeared on television […]
The Yunus Emre Institute in London is staging a special performance of Karagöz & Hacivat shadow play as part of the annual celebration of National Sovereignty and Children’s Day in Turkey on 23 April. This famous play, which is aimed at kids aged 4 and older, but suitable for all the family, will be performed […]
The third edition of the London Turkish Speakers Theatre Festival is set to start at the end of March and run for four days. After a two year break due to the coronavirus pandemic, the festival is back and with an even bigger programme that encompasses not only plays, but also storytelling workshops, and fun […]
The life and thoughts of Melvana Rumi, a 13th century Sufi philosopher and poet, has touched millions around the world. The universal and utilitarian nature of his timeless words have been passed down the generations for eight centuries, continuing to inspire people of all nationalities, ages, faiths and backgrounds. Next week is the world premiere of […]
Hamlet’s famous advice to the players goes: “Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue.” But what do you do as a performer if you are living within a culture that sees you as an alien, as ‘other’? Featuring at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe and an […]
Originating from the Ottoman era, Karagöz and Hacivat are among Turkey’s most famous and popular theatre characters, a perfect foil for each other as they seek to solve everyday problems. Karagöz represents the illiterate, but straightforward general public, while Hacivat is from the educated classes, always speaking in a posh form of Ottoman Turkish to […]
The co-founders of Dalston’s Arcola Theatre have received the Off West End Special Achievement Award for their work staging outstanding theatre for the past 20 years. Mehmet Ergen, Arcola’s Artistic Director, and Leyla Nazli, an Executive Producer, received the award at the Off West End Awards ceremony at Battersea Arts Centre on Sunday 8 March […]
A man is preparing to get married for the fifth time. His fate lies in the hands of his four previous wives: should they kick, love or kill him? Written, directed and starring Okan Bayülgen, Harem Kabare is a musical comedy with a twist. The women take centre stage with their all too familiar life […]
The supernatural madness of Shakespeare’s enduring classic is brought to life at the seaside with a cast of Turkish characters. A world of chaos ensues in a story brimming with love and lust, as friendships as tested and magical worlds explored. This radical adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is translated by Can Yücel, a […]
Pan Productions returns with a re-run of its powerful, contemporary interpretation of a British classic, performed by immigrants. The play, by award-winning director Aylin Bozok (pictured above), brings together diverse people to explore the unspoken rules of English society which confront foreigners daily, as they try to fit in, from their accents to their upbringing […]
