Dilek - Turkish folk opera about honour killings
Honour killings and honour-related violence are alarming phenomena in both Turkish and European contemporary society. The taboos and conflicts between tradition and modernity that are involved in honour killings return in the new production by theatre company Rast: Dilek, a Turkish folk opera about honour killings. With Dilek Rast intends to expose the roots of the problem and give the victims a voice.
In Dilek authentic Anatolian folk songs are mixed with elements from classical Western opera. Turkish with Dutch supertitles.
‘Dilek, victim but also a heroine.’
The story is about a girl, Dilek, who is in love with a boy. Their love is completely innocent. However, her parents want to marry her off to a different family. After Dilek has been spotted in the company of the boy, she is the subject of gossip. “A girl that goes around with boys, cannot be a virgin,” the community decides. People talk about her as if she is a whore, a severe defilement of her family's honour. This can only result in a terrible tragedy. Or might there be some hope for Dilek?A heartbreaking story about a girl who tries to follow the way of her heart, caught between tradition, religion and her family's honour. Her father, mother, brothers and other relatives form a merciless vortex in which she herself is trapped too.
Anatolian folk songs
In Dilek authentic Anatolian folk songs and singing techniques are mixed with elements from classical Western opera. The point of departure is folk music from Southeast, East and Central Anatolia with ballads and epic songs, mostly accompanied by Turkish lute, saz and percussion. The songs are about unattainable love, daily events and rituals, and themes such as feuds, natural disasters and honour killings. The cast consists of an orchestra and singers/actors from Turkey. Every character in the folk opera sings, acts and makes music from his or her own perspective and role in this tragic love story.
Attendant program Dilek
To facilitate interactive discussions about honour killings RAST offers four attendant programs, including introductions/lectures, debates chaired by Yeter Akin and Seren Dalkiran after the presentation of the documentary film by Stichting Verdwaalde Gezichten, workshops on Turkish folk opera and a discussion after the performance with director Celil Toksöz and the performers.
Concept and direction Celil Toksöz
Research and advice Melih Duygulu and Renate van der Zee
Photography Bernadette Gerats
Collaboration partners International Theatre festival Ankara, Koceli University, Theatre Festival Diyalog Berlin Supported by Turkey Now! Festival (Kulsan), Festival OostCultuur Gelderland and Stichting Mooi Den Haag
