Photo by Semiha Sungur
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- 700-year-old traditional Turkish Theatre in America. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, Turkish shadow theater will be showcased at Princeton University. Actor and playwright Ayhan Hulagu adapts the 700-year-old Karagöz tradition in The Forest of the Witch for American audiences.
Ayhan Hulagu, who brought traditional Turkish theater to Broadway for the first time in its 700-year history, has adapted the art form to Hollywood with The Other Side of Hollywood. Known for adapting world classics into traditional theater, Hulagu has worked on Eastern and Western classics such as One Thousand and One Nights, Hamlet, Don Quixote, and The Nose. Hulagu, his latest play The Forest of the Witch reinterprets traditional theater by adapting one of the world’s oldest forms of shadow theater, Karagöz shadow theater, to today’s America.
The story follows Karagöz, who cuts down a tree outside his house and faces supernatural consequences. Punished by spirits for disrupting nature, he gets caught in a series of comedic, fantastical misadventures. The play adds a modern twist by incorporating iconic American figures, bridging Turkish and American cultural traditions.
As recognized by UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, the play was created using traditional methods. The 25 puppets featured in the play are made from cow and buffalo leather. As in the tradition, all characters will be improvised and performed by a single actor.
Hulagu, who believes traditional theater should resonate with contemporary audiences, says, "In my plays, I follow the traditional process. The characters are made from animal or camel hides, just as they were 700 years ago. I make dyes from flowers and cut the leather with classic knives. However, living in the 21st century, I can't ignore today's stories and aesthetics. That’s why I often adapt classic tales, rewriting them for the stage.”
Ayhan Hulagu, recognized as one of the leading representatives of traditional Turkish theater abroad, has performed at prestigious universities such as Cornell, UC Berkeley, MIT, and Harvard. In the past five years, he has been invited by 25 U.S. universities and has taught workshops. Hulagu has also participated in 35 international festivals, including the Hollywood Fringe Festival, National Puppet Festival, International Puppet Fringe NYC, and Neopolis International Theatre Festival.
Photo by Semiha Sungur
His latest adaptation of the 19th-century play Kanlı Kavak brings Turkish theater to modern-day America, offering audiences a unique cultural experience on Thursday, April 3, 2025 in the East Pyne Building, 010COR at Princeton University. In Ayhan Hulagu's solo performance, Selma Hacıbeyoğlu and Vildan Urfan will take on the role of assistant directors for the play. Showtime is 7:00pm. The performance is open to the public.
