Those on stage

Umit GÜÇLÜ

• HAMLET

Shakespeare's timeless and transcendent classic, Hamlet, is being staged with an extraordinary interpretation. Directed by Chela De Ferrari, founder and artistic director of the Peruvian company Teatro La Plaza, this adaptation stars eight actors with Down syndrome. This bold approach preserves the classic's universal themes while offering the audience a touching and surprising experience. Previously staged in Peru, Spain, France, Belgium, and China, the production will premiere in Turkey as part of the 29th Istanbul Theatre Festival on October 24-25 at the Harbiye Muhsin Ertuğrul Stage. As the first production staged as part of the Accessible Arts Partnership, it represents a significant step forward both in the theatrical world and in social accessibility. This special adaptation offers a modern interpretation of Shakespeare's immortal work, revisiting questions of betrayal, revenge, and the depths of the human soul.

• THE CLOSET OF RIDVAN THE CIRCASSIAN

As part of the 29th Istanbul Theatre Festival, "Rıdvan the Circassian's Closet," one of the stories in Reşad Ekrem Koçu's book "What Happened in Istanbul on the Road to Love," is revived in a historic inn on the Golden Horn. A mansion on the Bosphorus, a shop in Kasımpaşa, two young hearts, and a shadow cast between them. As the purity of love and the darkness of ambition intertwine, Istanbul's ancient streets once again echo under the shadow of passion and betrayal.

This story, stretching from centuries ago to the present, recalls the city's unchanging face: passion, betrayal, and hope. This storyteller's tale, brought to us from dusty historical notebooks by Reşad Ekrem Koçu, interweaves past and present, fantasy and reality in today's theater. Yemenici Güzeli Mustafa is a young lad from the tradesman class. He falls in love with the noble and beautiful İncili Hanım, who lives in a mansion on the Bosphorus. The young woman, in turn, loves him. However, this innocent love is opposed by a flamboyant slave living in the mansion, his master's favorite, and dreaming of freedom: Circassian Rıdvan.

Adapted by Lara Lakay and starring Cem Zeynel Kılıç, the play will meet the audience on Sunday, October 26th, at 11:00 – 14:00 – 17:00, at a historical inn on the Golden Horn.