Yel

by Ahmet Sami Özbudak

In May 2019, as part of the project series „Basecamp TR / DE“, Frank Heuel and Sami Özbudak developed the idea for the play „Yel“, which is set in the Balat district of Istanbul. There used to be a large Greek Orthodox community there, which now has only a few members. Some of the remaining families take care of the churches, their gardens and take on guard duties. Sami Özbudak spoke with them about their lives and experiences – then and now. Many of the stories in the play are based on their stories. The result is a play about farewells and departures, life’s dreams and lies, which could have taken place anywhere, including here.

With „YEL“ – parallel theater in Bonn and Istanbul we conceived a project of a new form of collaboration during the pandemic, in which artistic teams would work in Bonn and Istanbul and which would at the same time feature essential features of a real collaboration – artistic cooperation, exchange between the artists during the production, performances in both countries. „Yel“ was to be performed in parallel in Bonn and Istanbul. In the process, live digital connections were to be made during the performances. But at the time of the premiere, due to a curfew in Istanbul, the performances could not take place simultaneously and live connections were not possible.

 


Sponsored by: Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.