Great interest in GAU 1st Theatre Days

Press conference with the cast of “All Nuts Love Me or The temptation”

There has been significant interest in the Girne American University (GAU) 1st Theatre Days attended by the Cyprus people and students.

On the first day of the event, which was organized with the collaboration of TRNC Deputy Prime Minister, Ministry of Economics, Tourism and Culture and GAU, there was a presentation of “Hamlet” – the most famous William Shakespeare classic and on the second day “All Nuts Love Me or The Temptation” took the stage. Also plays entitled “Bir Kibrit Kutusu Beyaz Peynir (A Match Box of White Cheese)” from Nicosia Turkish Municipal Theatre, “It Felt Empty When the Heart Went at First but It Is Alright Now” and “Mehşer-i Cümbüş” will take the stage at the 1st Theatre Days event of GAU.

The plays which are organized under the GAU 1st Theatre Days with the co-operation of TRNC Deputy Prime Minister and the GAU Acting - Drama Department as part of the 27th March World Theatre Days, will be staged at 20:00 pm every night between the dates of 24th and 28th March for theatre lovers.

Mert Fırat, Aslı Tandoğan and Volkan Yosunlu answered the questions during the Press Conference held at GAU

The press conference which was held at GAU Millenium Chancellor’s Office Conference Hall, was attended by the Secretary General - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sualp Davut and the Head of GAU Drama and Acting Department - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Süner on behalf of GAU and the players of “All Nuts Love Me or The Temptation”; Mert Fırat, Aslı Tandoğan and Volkan Yosunlu on the behalf of the Fashion Stage.

GAU Secretary General – Assist. Prof. Dr. Sualp Davut stated in his speech that they were very happy when GAU Department of Drama and Acting suggested this proposal and said that they are proud to organize this project with TRNC Deputy Prime Minister, Ministry of Economics, Tourism and Culture. Davut who stated that GAU is now intertwined with the city of Kyrenia, underlined that people benefit from this and similar types of social and cultural activities.

Head of GAU Drama and Acting Department – Assist. Prof. Dr. Levent Süner stated that GAU Faculty of Stage Arts Drama and Acting Department is still a new department, and with the question of "What kind of an event can we do?" for 27th March World Theatre Day, they thought of the GAU 1st Theatre Days. Süner stated that they could not plan a play to stage yet, due to being a new department, but they plan to organize theatre days with a festival air with the support of the GAU Rectorship after this year. Also Süner stated that Mert Firat and Volkan Yosunlu were his students and organizing an event that will be participated by his students in a different place is very strange and an ecstatic feeling.

Aslı Tandoğan who gave information about the play “All Nuts Love Me or The Temptation” stated that she is very happy to be in Cyprus and thanked GAU for giving her this opportunity. Tandoğan also stated that this type of organization was worthy of the World Theatre Day particularly and thanked everyone who contributed in the formation of this organization.

Mert Fırat stated in his speech that they are both proud and cannot believe that they are with Levent Süner who put up with a lot of trouble during their 4 year drama and acting training. Fırat stated that he is behind them again when going onto the stage today and said that he is proud to take the stage in Girne American University. Fırat who stated that it is very valuable for GAU to spare the time, budget and space for this organization, indicated that they are always ready to do their part in this respect.

Volkan Yosunlu stated that being in Cyprus is nice but being in a university where Levent Süner is the Head of the Department is an honour, and said to the students who are in this department that the master-apprentice relationship is very important. Yosunlu thanked everyone who has contributed in the organization and drew attention to opening an acting department in the TRNC would be an important starting point, especially in these days where theatres are controversial.

Süner who stated that valuable plays will be staged at GAU while the players answered the journalists, stressed that the play named “It Felt Empty When the Heart Went at First but It Is Alright Now” from Talimhane Theater is a play that has received many awards at the festivals in Turkey and that theatre lovers do need to see this play in particular. It is reported that “Mahşer-i Cümbüş” which is the Pioneer of modern improvisational theatre will take the stage on Friday and the tickets are about to run out. Süner who stated that they expect all the art lovers at GAU Spectrum and also stated that the plays which were scheduled to take stage between March 29-30 of GAU 1ST Theatre Days were cancelled due to the local elections in Turkey.

Tickets can be obtained from Nicosia Leman Kültür, Magosa (Famagusta) Simit Saray, GAU Department of Public Relations and Akpınar Patisseries. For further information call 0(392) 650 2000 extension 1165 and visit www.gau.edu.tr and gaupr@gau.edu.tr.

The details of the plays which will take the stage as part of the GAU 1st Theatre Days are as follows:

Schedule of GAU 1st Theatre Days

“It Felt Empty When the Heart Went at First but It Is Alright Now”

Talimhane Theater
27 March 2014 / at 20:00 pm/GAU Spectrum

"Actually, there is something very funny, I know how much money that I am worth. How many people can say that? I have three thousand dollars. Because Mustafa paid that much to me. So, two and a half iPhones."

When Dijana that morning came from Odessa on the ferry to Karakoy Pier dock, she had the dreams of a happy future and the hope of a better life. But those planned for her, rather than dreams were something else. She fell into the hands of human traffickers, her passport was taken away, she was locked up in a house, Dijana was only one of hundreds of women forced into prostitution. She tells us of a history that is hard to endure from time to time with truth and irony. Talimhane Theatre adapts the play to our country which unfortunately plays an important role in human trafficking.

Author: Lucy Kirkwood
Adapter: Seçil Honeywill
Tecnic: Mustafa Dinç
Director: Mehmet Ergen

Cast:
Esra Bezen Bilgin
Güliz Gençoğlu

Awards:

2012 - Afife Jale / Best Actress of the Year

2012 - Sadri Alışık / Best Actress of the Year & Best Actress of the Year in a Leading Role Awards

2012 - Theatre Critics Association Theatre Player of the Year Award

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Mahşer-i Cümbüş
28 March 2014/ at 20:00 pm/ GAU Spectrum

Mahşer-i Cümbüş which is the pioneer of modern improvisational theatre in Turkey was founded by the students of Ankara University - Language and History-Geography Faculty Theatre Department in May 2001. The same year, in September a show called “Theatre Sports" started in Ankara Tenedos cafe. Mahşer-i Cümbüş moved to Istanbul in August of 2003, and has continued its activities in Istanbul.

Mahşer-i Cümbüş which is the pioneer of modern improvisational theater in Turkey brought together "Theatre Sports" which is one of the forms of Improvisation Theatre with the audience for the first time in Turkey. In its 5th year it opened its own stage called "Mahşer-i Cümbüş Hayalhanesi". The team have performed over 500 "Theatre Sports" and 200 "Brainstorm" shows so far.

Mahşer-i Cümbüş which is the pioneer of modern improvisational theatre in Turkey, blazed another trail in 2007 and carried Turkey’s first improvised show called "Instant Picture Show" to the screen and began a new era in Turkish television.

Mahşer-i Cümbüş is an improvisational theatre family with 50 people which started to train their own students in 2006 and currently with four separate graduate student groups (Sürç-ü Lisan, Ehl-i Keyf, Ani Etki Ters Tepki, Mevzu Bahis) present the audience with 6 different shows every week.