Yunus Emre InstituteYunus Emre Institute London celebrated April 23rd, National Sovereignty and Children’s Day in Turkey, with traditional shadow play Karagöz and Hacivat! Tickets were sold out for the exciting event that was enjoyed by children and parents alike!
Shadow plays have a long history of telling stories and entertaining audiences across many cultures. This is especially the case in Turkiye where you have quick and funny shadow play, Karagöz & Hacivat.
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Founded in the city of Bursa, the show emerged from the witty conversation between a mason, Hacivat, and a blacksmith, Karagöz. From the 15th century, these much-loved plays were performed during the celebrations and festivities of all, from the Ottoman palace to the public across the empire. Karagöz & Hacivat plays were performed using characters created from semi-transparent, painted leather that are projected from behind onto a white screen and sometime introduced with a music number!
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Karagöz & Hacivat Shadow Play is an educational project launched by Yunus Emre Institute London in 2018 that aims to promote an understanding and appreciation of Turkish culture whilst establishing a bridge between students coming from different cultural backgrounds. Within the scope of the project, over 30 plays in both English and Turkish languages have been performed for children in primary and secondary schools, various cultural institutions and museums in the UK.
These shows are brought to life by award-winning theatre actress Ada Burke who trained at the prestigious Bursa Karagöz and Hacivat Museum. Over the past five years, this project has met and continues to meet hundreds of students and parents.
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To date, Yunus Emre Institute London has staged the Karagöz & Hacivat shadow play at over 30 institutions and schools including Riverley Primary School, Leighton House Museum, Dr. Fazıl Küçük Turkish School, Cambridge Turkish School, William Patten Primary School, Horizon Romsey Community Centre and continued to be performed online during the pandemic period.
With high demand, the shadow plays have been taking the physical stage again in 2022 in full force and visits audiences across the UK to spread its cultural and funny cheer.
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As part of this project, the Karagöz & Hacivat Shadow Play was performed in Turkish on Saturday, 23 April 2022 in celebration of ‘April 23: National Sovereignty and Children’s Day in Turkey’. Yunus Emre Institute London warmly invited families to enjoy the play to celebrate this holiday, which was gifted to children by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, together with the children of the world.
After the show, the attending children were given a special Karagöz and Hacivat colouring book, Turkish flag, ’23 Nisan’ balloons and a snack to take the magic home with them!
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For more information on the event and to explore similar upcoming events, please visit Yunus Emre Institute London Website: https://yeelondon.org.uk/ or email londra@yee.org.tr.