The Bilkent University Department of Theater recently completed a collaboration/Erasmus+ exchange with the Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw. The collaboration culminated in performances of poems by authors important in the literary canons of Poland and Turkey.
The exchange had its origin when Asst. Prof. Jason Hale, chair of the department, made a visit to Warsaw last year. There, he taught improvisation workshops for the Academy’s directing students and initiated a collaboration and an Erasmus+ agreement.
The first phase of the collaboration took place last October, when five directing students and their professor visited Bilkent. While on campus, the visitors directed second-year Bilkent theater students in short performances of poems by the Polish poet Halina Poswiatowska.
The reciprocal portion of the exchange then took place last month, with Mr. Hale, instructor Meltem Keskin and second-year students Naz Göktan, Melisa Berberoğlu, Ahmet Kılıç and Berk Cem Göksel traveling to Warsaw to stage short performances of poems by Nazım Hikmet.