Theatre History Overview - Part 46 - Turkish Theatre

Since Turkey and Greece are closely related, the beginning of Turkish theatre is Greek theatre history. However, there was also traditional Turkish theatre was performed during the Ottoman Empire. These plays were not organized to be put on as purely performances, but they were special performances for during Ramadan or weddings.

The 1840s saw theatre based on western traditions brought into Turkey. This time was known as the Tanzimat Period in which reforms were taking plae in Turkish society. Texts by western dramatists were translated and adapted. Plays were also written by Turkish playwrights. Şair Evlenmesi was considered the first original Turkish play. The English title is The Marriage of a Poet. It was written by Namik Kemal.

In 1923, the Turkish Republic was established. Western norms in theatre were taken as a model. People first graduated from Ankara State Conservatory in 1941 and the Tatbikat stage was founded. The Ankara State Theatre was officiall founded in 1949. New playwrights started producing plays in the 1960s.

There was a lull in theatre in the 1908s beause of the coup d'etat. Plays were not produced in Turkey. However, since the 1990s, Turkish theatre groups have been increasing. The 2000s saw even more of an increase. Both local and international plays were produced. Turkey still has traditional and contemporary plays that are produced to this day.

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