The event is performed in Turkish. It is not suitable for audiences who do not speak Turkish.
Directed by Mehmet Birkiye, Zorlu PSM production The Picture of Dorian Gray will have its premiere as part of the 30th Istanbul Theatre Festival. Making its debut as the festival’s closing performance, the play will continue to be staged at Zorlu PSM throughout the season.
In the manifesto he wrote for his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde famously stated, “It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors,” sharply criticizing Victorian readers. Rejecting the hypocritical and rigid morality of his time, Wilde sparked considerable controversy with the novel.
Drawing inspiration from these words, Kerem Kurdoğlu and Mehmet Birkiye reimagine the novel for the stage through a free adaptation, rewriting it by exploring the expressive possibilities of the performing arts. Perhaps, in doing so, they come even closer to the true spirit of the work, reaching deeper into its essence. This dark and fantastically compelling story also opens the door to philosophical discussions around beauty, lost youth, aestheticism, hedonism, sin, morality, and evil.
Featuring performances by Salih Bademci, Engin Hepileri, and Yiğit Sertdemir, this dynamic and highly engaging adaptation, which speaks profoundly to the people of today, awaits festival audiences.
