The play "Empty Frame" met with audiences in Istanbul and Ankara

The play is staged with the contributions of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), State Theatres and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) City Theatres.

Theater Frankfurt General Artistic Director and also the director of the play, Kamil Kellecioğlu, made statements to AA correspondent regarding the play that was staged on February 18-19 at the Ankara State Theater Akün Stage and on February 22 at the Museum Gazhane Prof. Dr. Sevda Şener Stage in Istanbul.

Kellecioğlu said that it was a very different feeling to come back to the country from a foreign land and perform theater in one's own language in front of a Turkish audience.

Kellecioğlu, who stated that they prepared everything from the music, set and costumes of the play themselves, said, "A very beautiful work was done with the touches of a doyenne like Ayla Algan, we integrated with the audience. We hope that we will continue these feelings in Germany by growing, developing and improving them."

Expressing that they are trying to carry Turkish theater to the most beautiful places in Germany, Kellecioğlu said, "We tried to show what European Turks can do. We will continue to introduce Turkish theater with our team. Our play is a family drama. It is a play where everyone can find something for themselves in the life we ​​live, where we do not lose hope, hold on tightly to life and once again show the power of love. Everything starts with love. We love our country, our people and life."

"The play is a family drama but a very enjoyable one"

Çiğdem Spickermann, who plays a role in the play, stated that she has been at Theater Frankfurt for 12 years and said, "As an actress who went from Turkey to Germany, it is a great pleasure for me to be on tour with a Turkish and German theater in my country. We have received incredibly good feedback. The play is a family drama, but it is a very enjoyable drama. There are moments in it where we experience comedy and drama to the fullest. Everyone really finds something for themselves."

Spickermann, who said that everyone in the team worked wholeheartedly and voluntarily, said, "This is a wonderful thing. Because you feel the energy and sincerity of the audience from the stage. I am a professional actor and I am very happy to come to Turkey with such a wonderful team because I work with such a wonderful team."

Spickermann said that the plays were staged in Germany with German surtitles, and noted:

"We have gotten the Germans used to this system and they are very happy. They see the stage with us and they catch that integrity with the writing on us. We can also tell them about our own culture. We have had guests from the embassies, attachés and consulates here. They are very happy when they watch a Turkish play in Turkey with German surtitles. It is as if we have brought Germany to them."

Actress Gonca Ekiz also said that it was their first tour in Turkey and said, "It was very enjoyable to play this play for people who grew up in our own country with our language and culture. We were very happy and received good feedback. It was incredibly proud."

"Art and theatre are unifying"

Actor Onur Bağdadioğlu, stating that he played the "father" character in the play, said, "I am filled with incredible emotions. The audience's reaction was incredible. We got what we deserved for everything we did and this made us incredibly happy. We are very proud as a team. Playing in front of a Turkish audience is a separate pride. We played 5 plays in Germany and 5 plays on the tour here. I hope we come back more often from now on. Being in front of a Turkish audience is a very different feeling."

Actress Demet Öztürk said that she played the bohemian character "Reyhan" in the play and explained the following:

"We started staging our play in Germany. After a few performances there, we first came to Ankara and then to Istanbul. The play was performed in Germany, Ankara and Istanbul. But people and families are everywhere. In fact, emotions, experiences and therefore our troubles are the same. When we perform this play in different countries, to different people, there are no major changes. Because they experience and feel the same things. We always say that art and theater are unifying, and this play is the greatest proof of that."

Ayla Algan's memory is kept alive

The cast of "Empty Frame" also includes Sinan Çamcı, Elif Bilge Işıloğlu, Oğuz Akgeyik, Cem Şimşek and Burçin Candan Acun.

Master actress Ayla Algan, who passed away the previous year, was the supervisor of the play.

Gonca Ekiz was the assistant director of the project, Hannan Aslan was the art director, Şahin Vural designed the sets, Demet Öztürk designed the costumes, Cem Şimşek composed the music, and Venüs Bekar translated the play into German.

Aiming to build a cultural bridge between Türkiye and Germany, Tiyatro Frankfurt was founded in Frankfurt in 2003.

Aiming to bring Turkish and German art lovers together through theatre, the group aims to present important works of Turkish theatre to audiences on European stages.

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