19th State Theaters - Sabanci International Adana Theater Festival

Curtains Go Up for the 19th time at "the State Theaters-Sabancı International Adana Theater Festival" Organized with the Support of Sabancı Foundation.

Starting with the play “Giydirici” (The Dresser) staged by Istanbul State Theater on March 27 World Theater Day, the festival opened with the attendance of Mersin MP Mr. Fikri Sağlar; Mr. Mustafa Yavuz, Deputy Governor of Adana; Mr. Hüseyin Sözlü, Adana Metropolitan Municipality Mayor; Ms. Zerrin Koyunsağan, Sabancı Foundation General Manager; and Mr. Necat Birecik, General Art Director of State Theaters as well as many distinguished guests.

Stating in her speech at the opening ceremony that they believe culture and art activities need to reach all segments of society, Sabancı Foundation General Manager Zerrin Koyunsağan added: “Supporting culture and art is among the priorities of our Foundation. We support these activities to integrate with the world, to speak the common language of art, and to uphold traditional values. All our activities aim to make art accessible for all and to bring art and more people together. The festival that brings all of us together today is the fruit of the dream of making Adana a city of culture and art.”

“Sakıp Sabanci Lifelong Achievement Award” Goes to Ayten Gökçer

“Sakıp Sabancı Lifetime Achievement Award” has been offered to artists since 2005 as a token of gratitude and respect for masters who have made great contributions to the development of the art of theater. The award went to Ayten Gökçer this year. Serap Sağlar, an artist at State Theaters, accepted the award on behalf of Ayten Gökçer who could not attend the ceremony due to her illness.

Istanbul State Theater Deputy Director and actor Celal Kadri Kınoğlu read the World Theater Day declaration written by Prof. Dr. Merih Tangün.

A total of 21 plays, 12 from Turkey and 9 from abroad staged in the festival this year.

The Heart of Theater Beated in Adana for A Month

Plays “Romeo and Juliet” and “Anna and the Admiral” from Russia, “The GagFather” from Spain, “Cherry Orchard” from Georgia, “Old Clown Wanted” from Macedonia, “Antigone” from Serbia and “Log House”, a children’s play, from Italy had been staged in this year’s festival that is to last until April 30.

From Turkey, Istanbul State Theater staged “the Dresser”, Izmir State Theater “Mindgame”, Diyarbakır State Theater “Three Sisters”, Ankara State Theater “Unofficial Roxelana”, Tiyatro Adam “Was There an Ivan Ivanovich or Not?”, Tiyatro Kare “Arsenic and Old Lace”, Pürtelaş Tiyatro “Constellations”, Tiyatro Platform “The Rebellion Day of Dogs”, Boğaziçi Performing Arts Ensemble “Who’s There – The Last Hamlet of Mr. Muhsin” and all these plays met theater lovers.

Joining the festival from Spain, Cia La Tal staged ‘Carillo’, an outstanding example of street theater, at Doğal Parkand present the people of Adana with an enjoyable open air show.

Support for young artists continues

Among the plays staged in the festival by youth ensembles from both home and abroad are “The Border” by Theater 28 from Germany, and “The Fool” by Ya Da Theater, “Behind The Lie” by Tiyatro Hane and “The Button with Four Holes” by Fabrika Oyuncuları from Turkey.

In addition, workshops organized throughout the festival with the following themes: puppet, costume and mask production, creative clay activity and Karagöz.