Intercultural Circulation Between Greece and Türkiye: Theatre Networks and Nation- Building in the Early Republican Period (1923–1950)

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Şentürk Bezgin N.

IFTR 2025 / Performing Carnival: Ekstasis, Subversion, Metamorphosis, Cologne, Germany, 9 - 13 June 2025, pp.897, (Summary Text)

Abstract

This study examines the intercultural exchange between Greece and Türkiye in theater during the early Republican period (1923–1950), emphasizing the societal and political significance of theatrical activities. It explores how Greek theatre groups, particularly in the post-war context, contributed to cultural interactions, influenced Turkish theatrical practices and engaged with narratives of cultural modernization. The arrival of Greek theatre groups in Türkiye after the Greco-Turkish War presents a compelling case for examining cultural interaction in a post-conflict environment. These groups introduced their own aesthetic and artistic traditions, and their presence coincided with ongoing efforts to rebuild cultural and diplomatic relations between the two nations. The research highlights the reception of Greek theatrical performances in Türkiye and their broader social impact. Their significance lies in how transnational artistic exchanges may have played a role in modernization processes and contributed to cultural dialogue between former adversaries. While these interactions introduced new artistic elements into Turkish theatre they also reflected how shared cultural practices had the potential to foster mutual appreciation and shape diplomatic ties. Focusing on the broader social and cultural implications of these exchanges, this research situates theatre as a space of negotiation where aesthetics, politics, and identity converged in the aftermath of war. The performances not only entertained but may also have contributed to a sense of shared cultural heritage in a historically complex and politically sensitive period.