Yunus Emre Institute introduced “Turkish Theatre” at the Pakistan Theater Festival, one of Pakistan’s prestigious international events.

The Consulate General in Karachi of the Republic of Türkiye and Yunus Emre Institute participated in the Pakistan Theater Festival organized by the Karachi Arts Council.

In the largest artistic event held in Pakistan, a series of activities to promote Turkish theater were included by the Institute on October  7-8, 2023. The panel titled “Theater Education”, moderated by Pakistani Thespian Zeeshan Haider, was attended by Pakistani Artists Fawad Khan and Bakhtawar Mazhar and Ali Meriç and Şaziye Dağyapan, state theater artists of Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

After the panel, Ali Meriç made a presentation titled “Traditional Turkish Theatre” and gave examples of Karagöz-Hacivat, middle play and meddah. The presentation was followed with interest by Pakistani theater lovers.

“Yahya Kemal Beyatlı-Portrait of a Poet as the First Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Exhibition” Opened

Within the scope of the festival, the photography exhibition titled “Yahya Kemal Beyatlı- Portrait of a Poet as the First Turkish Ambassador in Pakistan” opened, hosted by Ahmed Parvez Art Gallery. Omar Soomro, Pakistan’s Minister of Law, Religious Affairs and Human Rights, attended the opening program, which attracted intense attention from the Pakistani media, as the guest of honor. The program was also attended by Pakistan Yunus Emre Institute Coordinator Prof. Dr. Halil Toker, representatives of Turkish institutions, consuls general of Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and Oman, art lovers and guests.

In his speech at the exhibition, Karachi Arts Council President Muhammad Ahmad Shah used the following expressions: “We are celebrating the 76th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Pakistan.”

Turkish Consul General in Karachi Cemal Sangu who started his speech by greeting the participants made the following evaluation: “Today is an important day for us. In our exhibition, we are exhibiting the portrait of our first Ambassador in Pakistan, Yahya Kemal Beyatlı. Beyatlı was also among the leading names of Turkish literature.”

Traditional and Contemporary Turkish Theater Introduced

Following Şaziye Dağyapan’s presentation titled “Contemporary Turkish Theatre”, Ali Meriç organized a workshop on “Traditional Turkish Theatre” and showed the participants the preparation of Karagöz-Hacivat depictions.

Sindh Province Prime Minister Maqbool Baqar attended the closing program of the Pakistan Theater Festival as the guest of honor. In the program, plaques were presented to the theater actors who performed throughout the festival and the speakers who participated in the panels.

At the Pakistan Theater Festival, attended by 7 countries, more than 40 shows and many panel programs were held, as well as various workshops.