TALKS ON HISTORY OF OUR THEATRE
AKBANK SANAT & THEATER FOUNDATION OF TURKEY (TTV)
""Kula" Play: Fading Memories of the Common Past of the Sephardic Jews of Istanbul"
Speaker: Rivka Bihar
Moderator: Noyan Ayturan
The play “Kula”, which is approaching to celebrate its 50th anniversary, actually represents Jewish life in Turkey, although it offers a sequence of the daily lives of Sephardic Jews in Galata Kuledibi. With the establishment of the Republic, the policies applied to the minorities mostly caused the loss of the Sephardic identity formed on the basis of a common language and values to a large extent. In this context, the play "Kula", staged in Ladino language, has got various significations since its first stage in 1979 and today, stands out as a tribute to the longing for the common past, that the Sephardic identity was fully experienced
Rivka Bihar: She completes her undergraduate education in the Department of Spanish Language and Literature at Istanbul University, and does her doctorate at the same university; holds a master's degree in Comparative Literature at Högskolan Dalarna University (Sweden). Rivka Bihar Waldman, whose main area of interest is the literary and cultural products of the Turkish Jewish community, has participated in many national and international conferences and her studies have been published in peer-reviewed journals; she also works as a translator and teacher.
Noyan Ayturan: After completing his undergraduate education in Physics, he received his master's degree from Istanbul University, Department of Theatre Criticism and Dramaturgy. He studied acting and mime at Istanbul University State Conservatory Pantomime Major of Art, Theater de l'Ange Fou - London International School of Physical Mime and Studio Actors, and is pursuing his doctorate in dramaturgy. He gave lectures in the performing arts departments of Istanbul, Haliç, Yeditepe, Yeni Yüzyıl and Beykent Universities. In addition to directing theatre plays, he produces academic content on theatre at an online video platform called Hausbühne.