Traditional Turkish theatre developed during the Ottoman Empire and includes various folk theatres and village plays. It is largely based on improvisation rather than written texts and focuses on comedy. Some key forms include Karagöz and Hacivat shadow puppet theatre, Meddah storytelling, Ortaoyunu street theatre, and village plays performed at rural celebrations.

1. Elif Boz

2. • Traditional Turkish Theatre is a term referring to shows
that were performed during the Ottoman Empire,
includes Folk Theatres and Village Plays.
Village Plays are based on the ceremonies of the
civilizations in Asia Minor as well as on Shaman
ceremonies inherited from Turkish ancestors.
Folk Theatre flourished in urban areas, and this type of
theatre comprises Karagöz and Hacivat (shadow
puppet theatre), Kukla (puppet theatre), Meddah
(storytelling) and Ortaoyunu (street theatre).
TRADITIONAL TURKISH
THEATRE

3. • The most important aspect of these types
of theatre is that they are based on
improvisation, and not on a written text.
The main element of traditional Turkish
theatre is comedy. The plays were not
organized to be performed regularly, but
were usually seen as part of traditional
ceremonies or social gatherings.
IMPROVISATION
THEATRE

4. • KARAGÖZ AND HACIVAT: Traditional
show theatre, where the shadow puppets
of human and animal figures, cut out of
leather and colored, are thrown onto a
white curtain using a light source behind it.
FOLK THEATRES

5. • MEDDAH: A kind of one act play where
the narrator also imitates the various
characters in the play.

6. • ORTA OYUNU: In style and theme
resembles Karagöz and Hacivat, but it is
performed by real actors.

7. • VILLAGE PLAYS: Plays are put on in
accordance with rural traditions on special
days, weddings and holidays.

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