site.btaBulgarian-Turkish Theatre Production "Dead Souls" Wins Over 500 Spectators at Its Premiere in Istanbul

Dead Souls, a production by director Vladlen Alexandrov and the Istanbul State Theatres troupe, was met with enthusiastic applause from more than 500 people at its premiere in Istanbul on Friday evening. 

Speaking to the Bulgarian News Agency, Mehmet Fatih Dokgoz, artistic director and head of the Istanbul State Theatres, said that it was the first Bulgarian-Turkish theatre production to be staged on the Istanbul State Theatres stage. Dokgoz said that it was spectacular that the premiere played to a full house of more than 500 people, who applauded both Alexandrov and the Turkish actors.

"I am not surprised because we prepared for a long time. I took part in all stages of the joint work. It was not easy, but this production, with the dances, music, sets, costumes and everything else, produced wonderful teamwork," Dokgoz said. "This is an achievement worthy of the cooperation between the Istanbul State Theatres and Bulgaria, which will continue," he added.

Alexandrov , who is director of the Vratsa Drama and Puppet Theatre, takes the audience into a cabaret theatre in his staging of Nikolay Gogol's Dead Souls. Nearly 30 Turkish actors recited, sang and performed on the stage of the Istanbul State Theatres at the Torun Centre in the Turkish metropolis on Friday evening. The production was a grand show using innovative means that helped convey the grotesque of life described by Gogol in his work.

The originality of Alexandrov’s production impressed Turkish theatre-goers, some of whom shared their views with the Bulgarian News Agency.

"Vladlen Alexandrov is one of the people who sparked Turkish-Bulgarian ties in theatre. The production was met with great enthusiasm by the audience. I congratulate him on the enthusiasm and professionalism he showed to the Istanbul audience, which is demanding. A fine Turkish-Bulgarian theatre celebration," said Iskender Altin, a well-known Turkish director and the first to stage a Turkish play at the Vratsa theatre.

The set design for Dead Souls is by Nadja Vasileva Kovachovska, and the puppet direction is by Darko Kovachovski. The show’s composer is Burcak Collu, and the choreography is by Pinar Ataer. The music and songs were written especially for the production.

The Turkish translation is by well-known translator of Bulgarian plays in Turkiye Huseyin Mevsim of Ankara University.

One of Alexandrov’s close assistants, especially on language as the actors speak Turkish on stage, is Suzan Sabanci, originally from Silistra, who is an actress at the Istanbul State Theatres.

"I am extremely grateful to Turkish State Theatres Director General Tamer Karadagli, to Mehmet Fatih Dokgoz, and to everyone involved in this grand Turkish-Bulgarian international project, which would not have happened without the efforts and financial resources of the Ankara and Istanbul State Theatres,” Alexandrov said.

The Bulgarian-Turkish production Dead Souls will be performed this season on the Istanbul stage to full houses, as tickets have been sold out for eight performances ahead, the Directorate of Istanbul State Theatres said.