In front of me is the Art Magazine dated October 15, 1979. On the cover, Toto Karaca, Mürvet Sim, Yıldız Kenter, Müşfik Kenter, Şükran Güngör, Genco Erkal, Metin Deniz, Gülriz Sururi, Engin Cezzar, Zafer Önen, Ulvi Alacakaplan, a very young Zeynep Irgat... All of them have a sad expression.
They are not visible in the photo, but I know: Savaş Dinçel, Müjdat Gezen, Rutkay Aziz, Beklan and Ayla Algan, Meral and Ali Taygun, Candan and Başar Sabuncu are also there. I was there too that day. I was one of those who brought them together and said, "We will not have Karaca Theater demolished!" I was one of the ringleaders of the campaign. Istanbul Water Administration wanted to demolish the theater and turn it into its headquarters.
Theater actors struggled. We did it. We did not have it demolished.
Karaca Theater was founded by Muammer Karaca with his own resources in 1954-55. The first play is “Ednan Bey Duymasın”. Adnan Menderes period. But at that time, actors and comedians who made criticisms were not thrown into well-type prisons. Rumor has it that they played "Cibali Police Station" 4 thousand times. Muammer Bey invited Muhsin Ertuğrul, who was "fired" from the Ankara State Theater in 1958. The Kenters planted the seeds of their theater there with "Two People on a Swing". Then, many private theaters from Ulvi Uraz to Haldun Dormen, from Münir Özkul to Ali Poyrazoğlu, those whose names I have listed above and those I have not mentioned, came and went from there. Dostlar Theater was there for 20 years. The first screenings of the cornerstones of our theater such as “Lüküs Hayat” and “Keşanlı Ali” were also in this theater. Karaca Theater was a sacred place for us theater lovers. It was the memory of Turkish theater history.
It was closed in 2012 due to earthquake risk.
THE VENUE OF INDEPENDENT THEATERS
Exactly 14 years have passed. Two days ago, before the official opening, I had the chance to visit and see the new version of Karaca Theatre, which went through restoration and revision. I love it. I was amazed. It is as if an archaeological excavation was carried out throughout history, and when the reinforced concrete walls that were added later were removed, masonry walls from the 19th century were revealed. (It was a French court in the 19th century.) And it was all reinforced with steel columns. I think this embrace of the new and the old is perfect. I congratulate and applaud IBB Culture and IBB Heritage for making this happen.
The theater hall has a capacity of 300 people, is modern looking and functional. The stage and backstage rooms are convenient. It has various halls that can be used as workshops and sections where chamber concerts can be held.
During my trip, I came across Mahir Polat, who added countless values to the city as the founder of Cultural Heritage at Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. I asked him the question that is circulating in the minds and tongues of many people:
While there are so many theater groups without venues in the city, playing in isolated places, will Karaca Theater be given to IBB City Theaters?
"This will definitely not happen. All independent theaters and groups will be able to benefit from here," he said. I trust him, I feel relieved.
"It will continue to be called Karaca Theater, but from now on it will function as a cultural center. It will work not only in the evenings but also during the day," he said. As a matter of fact, when I examined the huge poster hanging on its door, I saw that it would open its doors to a different event every evening.
MENGÜ ERTEL'S THEATER UNIVERSE
Karaca Theater has an exhibition hall with a separate independent entrance. The opening exhibition of the gallery is Mengü Ertel's theater universe. While visiting the exhibition, I breathed in the art atmosphere and theater world of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s as I wandered through the posters, decors, patterns, costume and set designs, book covers and logos of my master artist friend. I witnessed the creation of many of these works. I re-experienced the visual expression of our theater world in a multi-layered way. The curators of the exhibition are Esma and Murat Ertel.
As I wandered around the exhibition, it seemed that not only the playwright and the play, but also all the actors who took part in those plays accompanied me behind each poster.
We cannot look at Mengü Ertel merely as a graphic artist. He existed through the bridges he built and the networks he knitted between all fields of art. From architecture and archeology to cinema and theatre; He pushed all the possibilities of different artistic fields in his production, from photography and painting to literature, music, but certainly poetry. He became a pioneer in strengthening relationships between different disciplines. While increasing the meaning in his lines, colors and shapes, he glorified poetry in all of them.
We see this very clearly in this exhibition. The exhibition also has a magnificent catalogue; Do not leave this beautiful place without taking it.
I hope that Karaca Theater will bring welcome and pleasure as a place, as our memory of theater and culture, as well as our memory and consciousness.
