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Republic and



        Theatre




             Theatre has been one of the most popular means of
        entertainment for centuries because of its fun, relaxing
        atmosphere.  But  in  reality,  theatre  holds  much  more
        importance than what it may initially seem. For some, it        The plays mostly consisted of comedy without much
        may only look like a fun way of spending ones evening.   mentions  of  controversial  issues  like  politics  or  religion.
        But  historically,  the  art  of  theatre  has  been  used  to   Some artists who wished to change this sought to establish
        educate people by giving them the opportunity to know   a new sense of theatre consisting of different topics and
        themselves and question what’s around them. And since   perspectives.  Of  course,  since  theater  was  causing
        the theater is this fundamental in an independent and   people to gather new ideas and question their beliefs,
        harmonious society, it is only natural that it will be limited   this wish resulted in a long period where theatre and all
        or  even  cut  down  in  certain  time  periods.  Because   free  forms  of  expression  of  art  were  heavily  restricted.
        theatre represents people; what they think, why do they   This type of approach was put in law to prevent the new
        do what they do and what do they want.                 ideas from being introduced and to keep the masses
             Even though a form of theatre already existed within   uninformed from developments.
        the  Turkish  culture,  known  as  ‘’ortaoyunu’’  or  ’’hacıvat        This chain was finally broken during the times of the
        karagöz’’,  the  modern  theatre  that  we  know  today   National  Struggle  for  Independence  where  people
        was  foreign  to  Turks  for  a  long  time.  Hovewer,  during   used  theatre,  sometimes  in  secret,  to  communicate
        the  disintegration  of  the  Ottoman  Empire,  a  more   and  to  exchange  the  message  of  independence.  As
        western style of theatre was introduced as a part of the   the war officially started, theatre was popular again to
        westernization movement; which at the time was seen    give courage and to fuel the national sentiments of the
        as a way to save the empire from its demise. When it was   public.  Everywhere across the fallen Empire these plays
        first introduced, the plays were performed by foreigners   were performed, new ideas and revolutions were being
        and  staged  in  foreign  languages.  Which  of  course   discussed and people were becoming conscious of the
        appealed much more to the foreigners in the Ottoman    situation they were living in. As people fought, new stories
        Empire rather than the actual citizens. But with the efforts   and plays were introduced, new epics were being written
        of the people, this new form of entertainment became   and people found comfort in the integrative structure of
        increasingly popular. Soon, Turks also began to write and   theatre;  which  finally  managed  to  fulfill  its  purpose  of
        perform their own plays, embracing the art of theatre.  bringing people together to fight for a better future.
                                                                         At  the  end,  in  29  October  1923,  The  Republic  of
                                                               Türkiye  was  officially  founded  after  countless  sacrifices
                                                               made by the people of Türkiye, led by Mustafa Kemal
                                                               Atatürk. Who, with his whole heart supported all forms of
                                                               art and made sure in this newly established country, the
                                                               value of art and artists were recognized. Finally, thanks to
                                                               all of his efforts, today theatre is free from all restrictions
                                                               for people to learn and to enjoy, and all that is left for us
                                                               people to do is to protect and celebrate the freedom
                                                               he established.

                                                                                                          Duru Özek








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