YKB AFİFE

Turkey’s prominent banking corporation Yapı Kredi has been one of the most loyal supporters of art since it was founded. Among their numerous efforts for nourishment and development of art, Afife Jale Theater Awards holds an important place without doubt.

Afife Jale is the first Muslim actress in the history of Turkish art. Her relentless efforts and unique story has not only became an inspiration for all the Turkish women but influenced artists and art enthusiasts all over the country. And the Afife Jale Theater Awards, which has been held since 1996, is not only a celebration for theater but a commemoration for an immortal woman who became a symbol for determination, sacrifice and strength as well as a source for inspiration.

When we started to work on the project, we focused on the foundations of theater as an art for the ideation phase; expressions and interaction. Expressing emotions through acting and performing in an audience-engaging manner emerged as the key points. So we decided to develop a show which is multidisciplinary, expressive and interactive. We designed a show consisting of three components; performance, audiovisual aesthetics, story-telling. Performance was bringing out the expressions, audiovisuals were increasing the audience engagement and story-telling elements were cementing them.

The event venue was Zorlu Performance Center in İstanbul. We covered the stage at the main hall with a vast special mapping curtain, which helped performers interact with mapping content harmoniously and easily. A smooth choreography and original score created a strong stream of emotions while a 16mx12m sized video mapping curtain on stage for a better 3D view and depth perception was ensuring an impressive input for the senses of the audience.

From the first dance figure to the last image on the screen we aimed at bringing out the art, story and the personality of such an influencing character. Carrying out the overall project management along with creative direction, art direction, performance and production was no less fun than it was challenging. The show has received various awards including a Felis, one of the most important Turkish awards in creative sectors.