The Picture of Dorian Gray - Approx 75’ no intermission.
The 30th Istanbul Theatre Festival closes with the premiere of The Picture of Dorian Gray. The evening will also be an occasion to thank the production’s director Mehmet Birkiye, who has curated the festival for the past three years, and to welcome Kerem Kurdoğlu, who adapted Oscar Wilde’s text for the stage and will take over the festival’s curatorship from Birkiye together with Naz Erayda.
In the preface to his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde wrote, ‘It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors.’ With these words, he sharply criticised Victorian readers, rejecting the rigid and hypocritical morality of the period and causing a considerable stir.
Taking this statement as their point of departure, Kerem Kurdoğlu and Mehmet Birkiye offer a free adaptation of the novel, drawing on the expressive possibilities of the performing arts. Yet in doing so, they perhaps come even closer to the true spirit of the work, reaching its very essence. This dark and compelling story, with its fantastical quality, also opens up philosophical discussions around beauty, lost youth, aestheticism, hedonism, sin, morality and evil.
With performances by Salih Bademci, Engin Hepileri and Yiğit Sertdemir, this dynamic and compelling adaptation resonates deeply with contemporary audiences and awaits festival-goers..
Written by: Oscar Wilde - Directed by: Mehmet Birkiye - Adapted by: Kerem Kurdoğlu Cast: Salih Bademci, Engin Hepileri, Yiğit Sertdemir, Cansu Bahadır, Çağrı Özdoğan, Emre Yıldızlar, İlkin Öykü Fışkın, Koray Efe Yazgan, Songül Boztepe, Umur Berk Seven, Yasemin Aksel - Choreography: Tuğçe Ulugün Tuna - Set & Costuma Design: Şirin Dağtekin Yenen - Lighting Design: Cem Yılmazer - Composer: Fırat Akarcalı - Assistant Director: Gozel Rovshanova Production Coordinators: Elifnaz Öngören - Production Manager: Umutsu - Stage Manager: Ada Göktepe Assistant Directors: Tuğba Uluay, Ece Karadeniz Photography: Emre Güven Executive Producer: Yağmur Dolkun
