13th INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL THEATRE FESTIVAL
STARTS WITH TRIBUTE TO NAZIM

The 13th International Istanbul Theatre Festival, organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts will take start with an opening ceremony held at the Rumeli Fortress on Saturday, May 18th at 8:30pm.

Honorary Awards will be presented at the opening ceremony, as well as the acknowledgement plaques to the Festival Sponsor, Istanbul Stock Exchange; and the sponsors of the performances, Akbank, Bonus Card, Hedef Alliance Holding A.., BRSA Bridgestone Sabanc Lastik sanayii A.., Westdeutsche Landesbank, S.Beyazt irketler Grubu; as well as the Goethe Institut, Istanbul and British Council, Istanbul for their continuing support.

Every year, two Honorary Awards are presented to artists who have played an active role in the world of theatre. This years awards went to kran Gngr and Tankred Dorst. kran Gngr received the award for serving the Turkish theatre with his continuous and honourable work as an actor since 1954. The second award is be presented to Tankred Dorst, one of the first names to come to mind in German drama and whose texts has been translated to numerous languages and performed worldwide.

2002 is the centennial of Nzm Hikmet, the renowned poet of the Turkish language. It is also announced by Unesco as the Nzm Hikmet Year. In this respect, various performances are presented in Turkey and abroad.

The 13th International Istanbul Theatre Festival will pay Tribute to Nazm, a play adapted by Genco Erkal from the poems of great Turkish author Nazm Hikmet.

Tribute to Nzm is a theatrical adaptation of his poems and it is realised by Genco Erkal. The valuable actresses of the Turkish theatre; Yldz Kenter, Ayla Algan, Zeliha Berksoy, Jlide Kural, Zuhal Olcay, Tilbe Saran, Sema, Zeynep Tanbay, Ik Yenersu have come together for the first time for this production. The spectacular tribute will be presented at the Rumeli Fortress reflecting the colours of the beloved city of Nzm Hikmet.

13th International Istanbul Theatre Festival will present 19 plays at 10 different stages with 45 performances in total.

13TH INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL THEATRE FESTIVAL

PRESS CONFERENCE

The opening performance of the 13th International Istanbul Theatre Festival, "TRIBUTE TO NZIM" will be presented to press at a cocktail held at the Armada Hotel on Thursday, May 9th at 6pm.

The opening performance of the 13th International Istanbul Theatre Festival is dedicated to Nzm Hikmet, since 2002 is the centennial of Nzm Hikmet, the renowned poet of the Turkish language.

"Tribute to Nzm", sponsored by AKBANK is a theatrical adaptation of his poems and it is realised by Genco Erkal who is also the director of this theatrical event. The valuable actresses of the Turkish theatre; Yldz Kenter, Ayla Algan, Zeliha Berksoy, Jlide Kural, Zuhal Olcay, Tilbe Saran, Sema, Zeynep Tanbay, Ik Yenersu will be sharing the same stage. The spectacular tribute will be presented at the Rumeli Fortress on May 18th at 20:30 and on 19 & 20 May at 21:00.

Genco Erkal, director of "Tribute to Nazim" and Yldz Kenter, Ayla Algan, Zeliha Berksoy, Jlide Kural, Tilbe Saran, Sema, Zeynep Tanbay, Zuhal Olcay and Ik Yenersu will be present at the cocktail.

Place: Armada Hotel
Ahrkap Caddesi No: 24, Ahrkap
Tel: 0 212 638 1370
Date: 9 May, 2002
Time: 6pm

For further information please contact:
Ustungel Inanc
Int'l Press Co-ordinator
Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts
Tel: +90 212 334 07 57
Fax: +90 212 334 07 16
[email protected]

13th International Istanbul Theatre Festival
May 18th - June 4th, 2002

After one year of break, the 13th International Istanbul Theatre Festival organised by the Istanbul Culture and Arts Foundation is welcoming prominent theatre companies from around the world. From now on, this festival will be planned once every two years.

This year, the main "Festival Sponsor" of the 13th International Istanbul Theatre Festival is The Istanbul Stock Exchange. Other sponsors of the festival are Akbank T.A.., Brisa Bridgestone, Bonus Card, Hedef Alyans, S. Beyazt irketler Grubu, Westdeutsche Landesbank.

The festival will use various venues including Rumeli Fortress, Ortaky and Taksim Squares, Atatrk Cultural Centre, Oda and Aziz Nesin Theatres, Enka Vakf Auditorium, Harbiye Muhsin Erturul Stage, Feriye/Hamdi Saver Theatre, Oyun Atlyesi Stage.

Five distinguished plays from Germany, U.S.A., France, U.K. and Switzerland will participate to the 13th International Istanbul Theatre Festival. Thirteen Turkish plays will be presented in the program of the festival. Some of the guest theatre companies are The Wooster Group, Schaubhne am Lehniner Platz Berlin, Plasticiens Volants Street Theatre, Watermill West Berkshire Playhouse, Vidy-Lausanne E.T.E.

THE NAZIM HKMET YEAR

The 13th International Istanbul Theatre Festival celebrates the Nazm Hikmet Year with a glamorous project at Rumeli Fortress, which brings together important artists. The opening show of the festival, "Tribute to Nazm", also a production of the 13th International Istanbul Theatre Festival, is a theatre happening, compiled of Nazm Hikmet's poetry, performed and directed by Genco Erkal. The music of "Homage to Nazm" is designed by Selim Atakan, the stage by Metin Deniz and the costume by Artizan (Bilge Mesti). Yldz Kenter as well as Ayla Algan, Zeliha Berksoy, Jlide Kural, Tilbe Saran, Sema, Zeynep Tanbay, Zuhal Olcay, Ik Yenersu are among actors who contribute to the project.

"Why did Benerci Kill Himself?" an Istanbul State Theatre production directed by Mehmet Ulusoy and "Human Landscapes" staged by Rutkay Aziz are two other plays in the Festival's program on The Year Nazm Hikmet. The latter play, an Istanbul Municipal Theatres production, will meet its audience at the Haydarpaa Train Station.

THE ISTANBUL FOUNDATION FOR CULTURE AND ARTS CELEBRATES ITS 30th ANNIVERSARY

This year the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts is celebrating its 30th anniversary. A street theatre from France will participate to these celebrations. Plasticiens Volants will present two shows. The first one will be staged with large balloons of fishes in Ortaky Square. The second and main show of the company will take place on Sunday May 25th in Taksim Square. "The Language of Birds," a musical tale, will be staged with fireworks and big balloons of birds on a promenade around the Taksim Square. Plasticiens Volants is one of the world-famous companies, which performed at the closing ceremony of the Barcelona and the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games.

CO-PRODUCTIONS, CO-PROJECTS

Since 1999, the Festival continues its tradition of signing as a co-producer to a play. "Where is Oedipus?" an adaptation of the tragedy "Oedipus the Rex" by ahika Tekand, is a co-production of the 13th International Istanbul Theatre Festival and the European Center of Delphi". The play, staged by Stdyo Oyuncular, will premiere at the Festival, and will perform at the Delphi Antique Theatre Festival in the first week of July.

"The State of Women" is an adaptation of Aristophanes' "Ecclesiazusen" by Ycel Erten. This Ycel Erten project, produced by Asya Organizasyon will do its premiere at the Festival in Rumeli Hisari.

Sarah Kane was an author, renowned for her work not only in England but also in many cities around the world. She chose to die at her young age, but her works continue to be the subjects of discussions, forcing, questioning the spectator. Her plays are described as "Theatre of Extremes". "Sufferig I", presented to the festival as a project by Emre Koyuncuoglu, is a work compiled of sections from the plays "Passion" and "Psychosis 4.48".

"Discussion text" written by Asl Mertan in the conceptual direction of Kumpanya's Naz Erayda will be performed throughout the festival in various spots of the city. The name of the work is "What is it this time?"

Tiyatro Oyunevi's "Amnesia" is a work based on idea of "theatre against amnesia" and compiled of four French writer's plays on settling accounts with power, violence, and persuasion techniques. This year, Aksanat Prodksiyon Tiyatrosu contributes to the festival with Behi Ak's play titled "One Man City". "Mind Game", performed at Oyun Atlyesi's new theatre space, participates to the festival as a typical example of theatre of tension. Another guest of the festival is the Istanbul State Theatres Production "Me Ruhi Bey How I Feel Myself" adapted for the stage from Edip Cansever's verses. This year the Eskisehir Municipality Theatre will participate to the festival from Eskisehir with Bilgesu Erenus' play "The Guest".

MEETING SHAKESPEARE

The Istanbul Municipal Theatres presents its production of "Othello" at the 13th International Istanbul Theatre Festival. A collage of Shakespeare's strongest historical plays "Henry VI" directed by Edward Hall and Roger Warren will follow this play. Watermill, West Berkshire Playhouse will present "Rose Rage" at the Muhsin Ertugrul City Theatre with a crew of male actors.

SOUND, LIGHT, BODY

The Wooster Group is one of the most prestigious companies that contribute to the 13th International Istanbul Theatre Festival. This group will be the guest of the festival with its last play "To You, The Birdie!" a work which incorporates multi-media and multi-track systems and challenges conventional theatre. One of the actors of this play inspired from Racine's famous "Phedre", which is staged in the form of a soap opera, is film industry's famous William Dafoe. Dafoe is familiar to Turkish audiences, with his films "Platoon", "Dracula" and "The English Patient" with which he was nominated to the Oscar. The premiere of "To you, The Birdie!" was in the Paris Autumn Festival. Its New York Premiere in February 2002, received extraordinary commentary.

"Hahirigaki" participates to the festival as a Heiner Goebbels production. Well-known actresses from European, Asian and American continents have leading roles in the play. In this Theatre Vidy Lausanne, E.T.E production, these women from various cultural backgrounds solve a visual and musical puzzle along with the spectator.

Two plays participate to the dance theatre section of the festival. "Krper" produced by Schaubhne am Lehniner Platz, Berlin and "Travelogue 2002" presented by the Modern Dance Company of the Ankara State Opera. "Krper", directed by German choreographer Sacha Waltz and company, and with Hans Peter Kuhn's musical compositions, is a striking, sharp work, invited to festivals and cities around the world. "Travelogue 2002" has been a work appreciated around the world with its universal dimensions.

HONORARY AWARDS

The 13th International Istanbul Theatre Festival is giving the Honorary Prize to kran Gngr for his important contributions to Turkish Theatre. The foreign recipient of this year's prize is the renowned playwright Tankred Dorst.

MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS

In the context of Tiyatro Oyunevi's play "Amnesia", a symposium will take place at the French Cultural Centre with the participation of Zeynep Sayn, Ferda Keskin, Ali Akay, Ahmet Soysal as well as French play-writers Enzo Cormann and Eugene Durif.

Hseyin Karabey's "Silent Death" will be shown in the same context. A discussion will be organised with the director of the play "Amnesia", Mahir Gnray as well as its authors.

Workshops will be announced during the festival.

TICKET SALES

From Saturday 11 May, 2002
- All Biletix sales locations
- Biletix Call Centre: (0216) 454 15 55
- www.biletix.com
- Atatrk Cultural Center, Box office

From Saturday 18 May, 2002 also at below locations:
- Harbiye Muhsin Erturul Stage, Box office
- Rumeli Fortress, Box office

Ticket sales will be made 1 hour prior to performance time at each theatre.
There will be a discount of 15% for students and for artists for each price category. Students and artits are obliged to show their student identity cards at the entrances.

"Friends of Istanbul Culture and Arts" Tulip Card Members

- Tulip Card members' rights are limited to only two tickets for each performance. Additional tickets can be obtained at regular prices starting from Saturday, 11 May 2002.
- Tulip Card members can buy their tickets by calling the ID Communication Center: (0216) 556 98 56.
- Ticket sales for Red and White Tulip members will be made through the ID Communication Centre, the Biletix internet page www.biletix.com and the Biletix sales locations during 8-10 May 2002.
- Reservation forms will be sent to the addresses of our Black Tulip members. In order to be able to buy tickets with priority, they will fill in the forms and return them to Ms. Zeliha Kaya at fax: (0212) 334 07 05 until 7 May 2002. Tickets purchased by the Black Tulip members will be sent to their addresses by courier service.
- Those Tulip members who have not purchased their tickets within the priority period will still benefit from the 20% discount at all price categories, after 11 May.
- This discount will be limited to two tickets for each performance. From this date on, a special box office will be opened at the Atatrk Cultural Centre for our members.
- Red Tulip members who are students will benefit from 20% additional discount on student prices. In this case, they have to present their Student Identities together with their Red Tulip cards, at the entrance.

Information

- Festival Centre: (0212) 334 07 34
- For ID membership / information: www.istanbuldostlari.org, ID Communication Centre: (0216) 556 98 56.