9 Unforgettable Turkish Theater Works with a Golden Legacy
In a process extending from traditional theater to Western theater, many important works have been performed in Turkey and played for years. We have brought together the most important works of Turkish theater for theater lovers.
1. Lüküs Hayat
In 1930, Istanbul City Theaters were in danger of closing down due to a decrease in the number of spectators and insufficient funds. Just at this time, Muhsin Ertuğrul tried to keep the audience's interest alive with musical plays. Based on this idea, Lüküs Hayat was first performed in front of the audience in 1933. This work was so popular that it continued to be performed until 1946.
Lüküs Hayat was about the ridiculous parts of Turkish society and its confrontation with the West.
This work, which became a cult piece over time, continued to be performed again and again by different people. Most recently, in 1973, Lüküs Hayat was made into a movie by Haldun Dormen and remained popular for many years. Haldun Dormen, Suna Pekuysal and Zihni Göktay are among the names associated with this work.
2. Cibali Karakolu
Cibali Karakolu is one of the works written by Henri Keroul and Albert Barre and has an important place in Turkish theater. This work was adapted into Turkish by Refik Kordağ and Muammer Karaca and performed as the opening play of Muammer Karaca Theater.
Cibali Karakolu became Turkey's longest running poster piece.
In 1966, the cult work was transferred to the big screen. The work dealt with male-female relationships, the place of materialism in relationships and social criticism. Cibali Karakolu made the audience laugh and think and was met with great interest by everyone.
3. Kanlı Nigar
When the theater production of Kanlı Nigar, written by Sadık Şendil, first appeared before the audience, the lead roles were played by Münir Özkul and Altan Karındaş. When the theater was very popular, two different film versions of the work were also written. Kanlı Nigar portrayed male-female relationships, female revenge, female solidarity and separation.
4. Yedi Kocalı Hürmüz
Yedi Kocalı Hürmüz, which has a very important place in Turkish theater, also bears the signature of Sadık Şendil. This play, which was transferred to cinema after the theater, is about Hürmüz's management of her husbands at the same time.
5. Paydos
Paydos is one of the cult works of Turkish theater written by Cevat Fehmi Başkut and first exhibited in Istanbul City Theaters in 1947. At the same time, this work has also made history as the first Turkish play to be professionally exhibited abroad.
Paydos was transferred to the big screen by Sami Ayanoğlu in 1954 and Ülkü Erakalın in 1968.
This important work deals with the economic depression after the Second World War and the relationships that emerged within this framework. Paydos was staged 140 times in Turkey and 65 times abroad in a single season and attracted great interest.
6. Keşanlı Ali Destanı
Written by Haldun Taner, this work was first performed on the Muammer Karaca stage in 1964. This work was staged 493 times in many cities until 1970 and became a cult work by being performed in many places abroad.
Keşanlı Ali Destanı was adapted to the big screen by Atıf Yılmaz in 1964.
In this work, he focused on the slum life where bullying ruled instead of state power and laws, and at the same time criticized social problems.
7. Şair Evlenmesi
Written by İbrahim Şinasi, one of the most successful writers of the Tanzimat Period, this work is known as the first theater work in the western sense. In Şair Evlenmesi, which is a product of the transition from improvisation to tuluat, traces of Moliere and traditional theater are found.
This work deals with the drawbacks of arranged marriages.
This work, also called comedy of honor, has become one of the most important and popular works of Turkish theater.
8. Köşebaşı
The work written by Ahmet Kutsi Tecer was first staged in Ankara in 1947. In this work, the events that take place at the corner are conveyed to the audience. The author defines the corner as a slice of life.
9. İstanbul Efendisi
Written by Müsahipzade Celil in 1914, the work deals with the social life of the Ottoman Empire after the Tulip Period. Over time, this work has become one of the most popular and important works of Turkish theater.
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