Turkish State Theaters lift curtain on 'Open Air Theater Summer Plays'

ANKARA

Turkish State Theaters, which took a long break from their performances due to the coronavirus pandemic, Friday opened doors for audience by lifting the curtain on “Open Air Theater Summer Plays”.

The opening of the event was held at the Irfan Sahinbas Stage in the capital Ankara with the play Our Yunus. Directed by Mustafa Kurt and staged by the Ankara State Theatre, Our Yunus highlights the life of the 13th-century poet and Sufi philosopher Yunus Emre.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency before the performance, State Theaters General Manager Mustafa Kurt thanked the art lovers who came to see the play after a long break due to COVID-19.

“Today is an exciting day for us. We are prepared very well. We welcome our audience by taking the epidemic measures,” Kurt said.

“Almost all of our plays that will be staged in the first week are full,” he added.

Kurt also said that Summer Plays will continue throughout the year. “We will continue to work for 12 months, summer and winter."

According to the schedule, Our Yunus will be staged on Friday and Saturday, while on June 10, 11, and 12, a play on Asik Veysel, one of the most prominent early 20th-century folk poets and singers, will be staged. On June 17, 18, and 19 as well as on June 24, 25, and 26, other plays will be staged by the theater.

Turkey is imposing a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m on weekdays and Saturdays, and a full lockdown on Sundays till July.