They will meet the audience with new plays in Ramadan

The Karagöz shadow play, which is on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Intangible Cultural Heritage List and has a history of approximately 700 years, will meet with the citizens in Bursa during Ramadan.

The plays, which were brought together with different techniques without straying from tradition by the (imaginary) Karagöz and Hacivat actor Nevzat Çiftçi, will be brought to the screen for both children and adults, as in the past, during the month of Ramadan.

In the shows to be held outdoors as well as in the halls after iftar, the witty conversations between Karagöz and Hacivat will make the audience both laugh and think.

Hayali Nevzat Çiftçi explained that during the month of Ramadan, everyone, children and adults, happily await Karagöz and Hacivat. Stating that they have prepared two new plays that appeal to both children and adults, Çiftçi said, "Karagöz actually brings everyone together in the same play when it catches them, and children and adults watch that play with the same pleasure."

Çiftçi, who stated that they will use a different technique within the structure of kar-ı kadim (classic Karagöz plays written in the past) without changing the original structure in this year's plays, said, "We prepared a new play, called 'Karagöz Compete', by taking the dimension out of the screen with the puppet we added to the play. Karagöz will compete with itself and its technique. We prepared a different play with live music. We will present it in the later days of Ramadan."

Çiftçi, who stated that there are many plays in their repertoire, added that they will present many plays such as "Karagöz's Bride", "Karagöz's Great Marriage Play", "Karagöz's Doctor Play" to the audience on the screen.

Bursa Uludağ University Karagöz and Puppet Plays Application and Research Center (KARAKUM) Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Öztahtalı also said that Karagöz and Hacivat and the team on the screen are ready for the show not only in Ramadan but every day of the year.

Stating that one of the most important elements of traditional Turkish theatre is the Karagöz curtain, Öztahtalı said, "We have made very good preparations for both the people of Bursa and visitors from outside Bursa this Ramadan. Karagöz and Hacivat are ready for Ramadan with their brand new plays."

Öztahtalı stated that Karagöz is needed not only during Ramadan but every day, and noted: "Karagöz is a brand that reflects the common sense and perspective of Anatolia to people in the entire Turkish world. It is a very important heritage that we need to pass on to future generations, which UNESCO has also included in the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List. As KARAKUM, we continue our activities at full speed both to raise new dreams for future generations and to attract attention to Karagöz."