Entertainment · Books & Arts · 6 hrs ago
Istanbul Theatre Festival highlights memory, language and literature
The Istanbul Theatre Festival is opening with “Lacrima”, a play written and directed by Caroline Guiela Nguyen.
Its scenes move between a Paris fashion house and embroidery workshops in Mumbai, tracing a chain of labour across four languages, including French sign language.
Memory and communication are central themes across this year’s programme, which includes plays about searching for a missing person and the changing of a mother tongue across generations.
Other works draw on literature and history, including a play built around a 129-year-old dowry document and an adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”
The programme also examines social questions, including digital harassment and the experiences of women, through a contemporary reworking of “Anna Karenina.”
The festival’s closing show, “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” is due to premiere on December 3 at Zorlu PSM in Istanbul.
The Istanbul Theatre Festival’s programme highlights memory, language, communication and literature.
The festival opens with Caroline Guiela Nguyen’s “Lacrima,” which follows a chain of work from a Paris fashion house to embroidery workshops in Mumbai.
Several productions explore memory, including stories about searching for a missing person and revisiting a 129-year-old dowry document.
Other works examine language and communication through family stories involving a changing mother tongue and sign language.
The programme also adapts works by J. M. Coetzee, Oscar Wilde and Leo Tolstoy for the stage.
- Who
- The Istanbul Theatre Festival and the artists and theatre companies presenting its productions.
- What
- The festival presents a programme featuring theatre and performance works about memory, language, communication and literature.
- When
- The article was published on October 15, 2026. It mentions performances from October 24 through December 3.
- Where
- Istanbul, at venues including Paribu Art, Zorlu PSM, Asmalımescit’s Phebus Auction House and Alan Kadıköy.
- Why
- The programme invites audiences to consider themes including memory, language, communication, literature and the role of theatre.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kafes Arkası Günahkârları: Silahşör Kızı Rabia Hanım” is scheduled at the Phebus Auction House in Asmalımescit.
Elizabeth Costello” is scheduled at Paribu Art.
Anna K.” is scheduled at Alan Kadıköy.
The Picture of Dorian Gray” is set to premiere at Zorlu PSM’s Turkcell Platinum Stage as the festival’s closing show.
- Opening production
- Lacrima” by Caroline Guiela Nguyen
- Programme theme
- Memory
- Elizabeth Costello” dates
- November 4–5
- Anna K.” dates
- November 18–19
- Closing show
- The Picture of Dorian Gray,” December 3
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What art reflects is not life, but the spectator himself