“Who’s ready for a story?” I ask with a playful grin as we approach Tiyatro Çocuk. It is a special place. Here at Tiyatro Çocuk, imaginations take flight and stories come alive.
Tiyatro Çocuk contributes to the pedagogical development of your child. Parents should read up on the plays in advance. Educational institutions can contact Tiyatro Çocuk for special advantages. This theater is open every day of the week from 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM.
Let’s step back in time. Did you know that the concept of children’s theater has evolved over centuries? The earliest forms can be traced back to England. During the reign of Elizabeth I, young boys from church choirs performed plays.
Fast forward to Turkey. The late Ottoman era saw initial interest in plays for children. Many were written during the reign of Abdulhamid II. These plays appeared in magazines. After the Second Constitutional Era, theater became a subject in elementary schools. However, they weren’t yet staging children’s plays.
The real turning point came in 1935. Muhsin Ertuğrul established the first children’s theater in Istanbul. Ertuğrul was inspired by his studies in the Soviet Union and Germany. He wanted to use theater to teach children about the values of the Republic. He also wanted them to understand the ongoing changes.
The Istanbul City Theaters staged “Children’s First Theater Lesson.” Mehmet Kemal Küçük wrote it. This marked the first time children and parents watched a play specifically for children. The play featured a “Theater Teacher.” This character explained theater to the audience. He became the first actor many children ever encountered.
This initiative spread beyond Istanbul. In 1946, İzmir City Theater followed suit. Ankara State Conservatory staged children’s plays in 1947.
Now, looking at Tiyatro Çocuk today, we see a continuation of this legacy. Tiyatro Çocuk stages plays suitable for children aged 2.5 years and older. Everyone entering the performance needs a ticket.
Tiyatro Çocuk offers a modern take on children’s theater. Tiyatro Çocuk produces interactive English plays. They bring a fresh approach to the scene. Founded in 2014 by Tuğba Güdücü Poyraz and Mustafa Poyraz, Tiyatro Fil has branches in Istanbul and İzmir.
Remember Muhsin Ertuğrul’s words: “Cities that do not start raising their audience from childhood will not find audiences for their theaters in the future. Today’s child is tomorrow’s youth, tomorrow’s enlightened audience.” Tiyatro Çocuk embodies this vision. It nurtures the theatergoers of tomorrow.