The third and last Library Lunchtime Lecture of this semester took place on December 18 in the Main Library Art Gallery. Departing from the usual format, this lecture was in fact a one-on-one conversation about directing American plays in Turkey.
The dialogue took place between American theater director Jason Hale and Turkish State Theater actress Meltem Keskin. Both hold faculty appointments in the Department of Performing Arts at Bilkent.
Last year, Mr. Hale and Ms. Keskin collaborated on the Ankara State Theater production of “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams. Williams was a famed American playwright and the author of many stage classics, with “The Glass Menagerie” being one of the best known. The play was a great success, and so the two theater professionals and teachers decided to work together again, using the student productions of the Bilkent theater department as a means not only to educate but also to reach the Ankara theater community.
During their conversation in the Library, they discussed the challenges of directing and acting in an American play in Turkey. Their dialogue touched on many areas of the subject, from casting and translation to the difficulties of understanding in a cross-cultural setting, and the value of global cooperation.
Ms. Keskin and Mr. Hale also described how they collaborate. Ms. Keskin noted that it was a “great experience” for her to work with Jason Hale, in part because he has a remarkable capacity to dig into a story, mirroring her own approach to acting.
Another topic that formed part of the discussion was the connection between Turkish and American theater, most clearly seen in the large number of US plays produced on the Turkish stage. The “lecture” ended with Mr. Hale and Ms. Keskin opening up their conversation to include the listeners by taking questions from the audience.
By Audrey Parmentier (IR/III)