Adana prepares for theater festival

ISTANBUL

The 20th State Theaters-Sabancı International Adana Theater Festival will open on March 27, World Theater Day. 

Until April 30, the festival will present 30 plays, 24 of which are from Turkey and six from abroad. 

Jointly organized by the Sabancı Foundation and the Culture and Tourism Ministry State Theaters, the festival will open with Havana Compas Dance Theater’s show “Cuba, Percussion and Dans” from Cuba. 

The festival program was launched at a press conference held on March 13 in the southern province of Adana. 

“Among many other cultural works from folklore to theater, from cinema to archaeology and music, the International Adana Theater Festival has a special place. We are proud that the festival will turn 20 this year as Turkey’s longest-running theater festival,” Sabancı Foundation General Director Zerrin Koyunsağan said. 

Along with Cuba, the festival will host theater companies from Spain, Latvia, Germany and Slovenia. 

From Turkey, the festival guests will be the Eskişehir, Adana, Bursa and Ankara state theaters, Seyhan Municipal Theater, İlhan-Sadri Alışık Theater and Istanbul City Theaters.

The number of open-air shows will increase to three this year at the festival. 

The event also supports young artists and alternative theater groups from across Turkey. Ankara Devinim Theater, İsimsiz Sahne, Theater Kast, Performans Theater and Shakespeare and Music Theater are in the festival program. 

The Sakıp Sabancı Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented in the opening ceremony of the festival. Since 2005, the festival has presented the Sakıp Sabancı Lifetime Achievement Award to those who have made contributions to the development of the art of theater. 

Tickets for the festival will be on sale from March 18.