The Press Conference for the 28th Istanbul Theatre Festival Curated by Prof. Mehmet Birkiye was held

The press conference for the 28th Istanbul Theatre Festival, which was curated by our Head of the Drama and Acting Department, Prof. Mehmet Birkiye was held. The festival’s Honorary Award was presented to Müjdat Gezen.

Since adopting a curated structure in 2022, the Istanbul Theatre Festival, under the curatory of Mehmet Birkiye, one of the important figures of the tradition of Kent Oyuncuları as both an actor and a director honored with numerous awards, prepares to welcome theatre lovers with a program including 5 international and 14 local plays in his first year as a curator.

At the meeting, which also featured the Chairman of the Board of IKSV Bülent Eczacıbaşı, Prof. Mehmet Birkiye stated, “Theatre allows us to connect with the ‘other’ and understand them, even if we don’t accept them. The ‘other’ doesn’t need to be a person or a community; it can be a belief, a human instinct, shortly anything. As we claim, if we want a secular, fair, democratic world that respects human rights, the position of the ‘other’ in such a world is overserious. Conflict with the ‘other’ have to drawn into a space which is not include primitive, violent instincts. In my opinion, one of the most effective methods to achieve this goal is theatre. This is why theatre should have a greater place in our lives. I hope the 28th Istanbul Theatre Festival opens up more space for theatre in our lives.”

As always, this year’s festival will showcase striking examples of world theatre to the audience.