A 5-Day Theater Festival

Izmir University of Economics (IUE) hosted art enthusiasts at a Theater Festival filled with entertainment and excitement over five days. Enriched by outstanding performances staged by theater groups from six different universities in Izmir, Istanbul and Adana, the festival offered guests unforgettable moments. Held by IUE free of charge and open to the public, the festival saw students leave their mark on the performances with their talents and stage shows, receiving great applause from thousands of theater lovers.

Organized for the fourth time this year in cooperation with the IUE Dean of Students Art Coordination Office and the Theater Club, the festival opened with IUE students staging their play titled Twelfth Night. On the second day of the festival, the Theater Department of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University State Conservatory met art lovers with its play On Bodily Pain.

A SERIES OF THEATER PERFORMANCES

The festival continued with Improvisational Theater by Ege University Creative Drama and Improvisational Theater Society and The Live Monkey Restaurant by Çukurova University Theater Society. In the final two days of the festival, Istanbul Technical University Theater Society staged The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, while Galatasaray University Theater Society performed Deliorman.

ART TALKS ATTRACTED GREAT INTEREST

In addition to theater performances, the festival also offered enjoyable moments through art talks. Renowned actors Levent Üzümcü and Ercan Kesal, film director M. Caner Alper and film producer Mehmet Binay shared their experiences and memories with guests. The workshop titled The Play Within the Physical, led by artist Orkun Kocabıyıkoğlu, also added color to the festival.

STRAY ANIMALS WERE NOT FORGOTTEN

An exemplary campaign was also carried out for stray animals as part of the festival. Some guests attending the festival brought packaged pet food for stray animals, in line with previous announcements. The food was received by IUE officials and placed in special pet food collection boxes.

“IZMIR’S ARTISTIC MEMORY IS GROWING RICHER”

IUE Art Coordinator Sinemis Eser Akaoğlu said that the festival, which once again attracted strong participation this year, has become an important meeting point that adds value to Izmir’s cultural and artistic life. Emphasizing that the university sees art as a value that is produced, shared and developed together, Akaoğlu said: “The gathering of young theater artists from different universities on the same stage at our festival created artistic diversity and provided a very valuable environment for interaction. Izmir is a city with a strong cultural heritage. The increase of such gatherings also enriches Izmir’s artistic memory. From the perspective of young people, this festival was not merely a platform where they performed on stage; it became an experiential space where they expressed themselves, gained courage and deepened their artistic journey. The friendships formed here and the stage experiences shared directly contribute to their future artistic productions,” she said.

“AN INCLUSIVE CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT WAS CREATED”

Akaoğlu continued: “As a university, we do not limit our close relationship with art to education alone. By bringing our campus and stages together with society, we aim to create a more inclusive cultural environment. With this festival, which we organized free of charge and open to the public, making art accessible to everyone is very valuable to us. Art is one of the most powerful elements that transform a city. We are very happy to be an active part of this transformation.”