Arcola Alaturka

Turkish language drama group - shows performed with English surtitles
Part of Creative Disruption https://www. arcolatheatre.com/whats-on /cd18 /

Arcola Turkish & Kurdish Theatre Group was born in 2001 when Artistic Director Mehmet Ergen led a series of workshops with young adult members of the Turkish and Kurdish community (aged 19-25).

These workshops developed into the first production, A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller, which played for one week. It was performed in Turkish and directed by Mehmet Ergen. This production proved highly successful and popular with the local community and spurred a number of participants to start professional careers in theatre.

Activities were put on hold until 2005 when Serdar Bilis led a second series of workshops resulting in a performance of Semerkant, an adaption by the group from Amin Maouluf. The second play was Les Justes by Albert Camus, which was directed by Ozgur Akbaba. It was performed every Sunday for 8 weeks in Autumn 2005 to sell-out audiences.

In 2007 the group worked under the direction of Arcola Executive Producer, Leyla Nazli, on a translation of Molieres Hypochondriac, Hastalik Hastasi, performed from April to June 2006 . In 2007 the group perfomed Gogol's Government Inspector, Mufettis, as part of the Arcola Theatre Orient Express Season.

Alaturka performed Cadi kazani (The Crucible) in 2008. The group then went on to devise small pieces around the theme of "Mother" which culminated in the show Anahatlar and was performed in June 2008. Two further devised plays followed: Under the Pillow and Doorway which were staged in 2009 and 2010.

In 2011, the group staged Asiye Nasil Kurtulur? / How Can Asiye be Saved? by Vasif Ongoren under the direction of Mehmet Ergen. It was staged both at Arcola and the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Seven Sisters.

In 2012, the group was directed by Secil Honeywill and staged Mutfak Soylesileri / Kitchen to Mesure by the Icelandic playwright Vala Thorsdottir (January and April 2012) and Everything Begins with Loving Somebody (stage adaptation of six stories by Sait Faik Abasiyanik) (October 2012).

In 2013, Secil Honeywill is directing the group to stage four short plays from the National Theatre commissioned short plays series 'Theatre Uncut'. Dates: 17-22 June 2013: more information to follow soon!

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