Harbiye Muhsin Ertuğrul Stage (Turkish: Harbiye Muhsin Ertuğrul Sahnesi) is a theatre venue in the Harbiye neighborhood of Şişli district in Istanbul, Turkey. It is owned by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and operated by its City Theatres (Şehir Tiyatroları) division.[1] The theatre is named in honor of the Turkish stage actor and director Muhsin Ertuğrul (1892-1979).
The Muhsin Ertuğrul theatre was initially opened in 1964. The old building at the same location was partly demolished to make place for a bigger and modern one.[2][3] Groundbreaking took place on February 14, 2008. The construction cost ₺17 million, and the theatre was reopened on January 14, 2010.[2][3] It is adjacent to Istanbul Congress Center, a multi-level complex, which was built to host the 2009 IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meeting.[4]
The old theatre had lowered its stage curtain after a performance of Keşanlı Ali Destanı (Keşanlı Ali’s Epic), a musical play by the renowned Turkish playwright Haldun Taner (1915-1986). It was also the same musical play that was staged on the reopening of the new theatre venue.[2][3]
Facilities
The covered area of the new theatre building is double so big as of the old building. It has a 400 m2 (4,300 sq ft) foyer.[1]
The heatre has a rotating stage and an orchestra pit. Six dressing rooms for actors, two rehearsal rooms, and rooms for lighting and sound personnel are incorporated in the building.[5] The auditorium has a seating capacity of 598.[1][2][3]
The theater is connected with Istanbul Congress Center, and with a passage to Istanbul Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Center across the street, which is closed to traffic. A car park capable of 1,000 vehicles is available under the building.[5]
Past productions
See also
References
