Turkish Traditional Performing Arts
Tags: Theatre, Turkish Traditional, Performing Arts

Nowadays, we all go to the theatres, solo performances, circuses, live performances and have fun. You have all heard that this and similar activities have been going on for centuries in the cultures of different countries. Also these arts have important and different places in Turkish culture.

Graphic Design: Esra Ulukavak.

However, in the past, especially in the period before the westernization of the Ottoman Empire, these activities were performing arts with their own characteristics. In this period, there were performances such as Orta Oyunu, Turkish shadow play , Meddah and Kanto.

The artists changed their performances , whether it was melodrama, comedy or tragedy, according to the time, the environment and the characteristics of the audience. Sometimes, even the subject of the show has been changed to a name that the public will love. After that, the plot of the story was outlined by the director and every actor who appeared on the stage improvised according to the new one. This is called improvisation (tuluat) theater. In the Tuluat theater, sometimes the kanto players sang kanto and by doing this the music mixed with the act and added something new to the performance.

The Ottoman people generally had fun with such artistic stage plays during the month of Ramadan. Because this month had a very important place at that time, as it is today, and this month was greeted with joy among people. Particularly, these circus-like entertainments, held in a tent called “Direklerarası Eğlencesi” (Crosspoles Fun), became a source of entertainment for the people during this month.

Meddah was one of the most important of these plays. Meddah was a person who told not only funny things but also various war, pain, gloom, comedy and drama-themed stories. They usually told their stories in areas where people spent their time. The profession of meddah required imitation, expressiveness and attracting. They have managed to find a place for themselves in the public and in the palace for a long time.

We wouldn’t be wrong if we say that Karagöz, as a kind of shadow play, is the best known and most loved traditional performing arts because this play, which still continues today, is based on two workers named Hacivat and Karagöz, who worked, according to rumors, in the construction of mosques in Bursa in the 14th century. These two were killed by the sultan of the period because of the fights and conversations between the two that distracted the other workers. Orta Oyunu, which is also one of the most popular, is an improvised performance that is shown in an area surrounded by people. It is not based on only a written text, but includes dance and music. This play was also played in public areas like inns. The area where the game is played is also called “palanga”. The main characters of the Orta Oyunu are Kavuklu and Pişekar. These characters are the equivalents of Karagöz and Hacivat. This game is based on mutual misunderstandings and word games too.

Apart from these performances, our Traditional Arts has a rich branch with many more plays. On the other hand, they have not only literary and artistic values, but also some historical values that aim to carry the history from past to present. They sometimes convey real events as well as improvisation. I hope we don’t let these arts disappear and we prevent our culture from degenerating.

Author: Görkem Çakır

Translator: Ensar Aksu