Theatre Without Borders: The Second Seasonal Actors Festival Comes to London
“From Istanbul’s underground stages to Tower Theatre’s historic boards, the Second Seasonal Actors Festival blends migration and memory, satire and soul. ‘Yaşasın Bağzı Şeyler’ is more than a slogan—it’s a quiet rebellion in costume.”
London Takes the Stage – And Passes the Mic
For the second time, Tower Theatre in London transforms into a vibrant mosaic of Turkish-language theatre, diaspora stories, and alternative narratives rarely found on Britain’s mainstages. The Second Mevsimlik Oyuncular Tiyatro Haftası (Seasonal Actors Festival), running from 27–31 May 2025, is not merely a showcase of plays—it is a statement of presence.
Organised under the creative guidance of Eda Çatalçam and her team at Mavi Productions, the festival features five days of theatre, concerts, stand-up, and workshops from both Turkey and the UK diaspora. The slogan this year, “Yaşasın Bağzı Şeyler” (“Long Live Some Things”), is an ode to resilience, memory, and the magic of shared space.
“Masallar Sınır Bilmez”: A Festival Rooted in Migration
This year’s programme hosts three visiting Turkish theatre ensembles, two original productions by the Seasonal Actors collective, a special stand-up night, musical performances, and workshops for youth and women.
As one of the festival’s recurring themes—migration—echoes through every corridor of the Tower, theatre becomes a space of both reflection and reinvention. At the heart of it all lies a simple idea: art moves with its people.
“Tiyatro Göçer mi?” (“Can Theatre Migrate?”)
A keynote conversation with Memet Ali Alabora and Philip Arditti, exploring the concept of mobile theatre, identity in flux, and the stories that grow roots in exile.
Programme Highlights
Here’s what you can expect across five spirited days:
Tuesday, 27 May – Opening Night
19:30 | Uykusuz Bir Rüya, Salim
(D22 Tiyatro)
A raw, poetic monologue by Berkay Ateş exploring masculinity, violence, and fate, rooted in the streets of Adana and Istanbul.
Wednesday, 28 May
14:30 | Ama Ya Doğru Söylüyorsa
(Mevsimlik Oyuncular)
A grotesque, fast-paced comedy interrogating economics and identity.
19:30 | 9/8’lik Kıyamet
(Mekan Sahne)
A dystopian tale told through darbuka and myth—where climate collapse meets Anatolian folklore.
Thursday, 29 May
14:30 | Keşke Anlattıklarım Yalan Olsa
A fragmented tapestry of migration stories and surreal confessions.
19:30 | Dansöz
(Mekan Sahne)
Sezen Keser stuns in a solo performance about visibility, femininity, and the cost of being seen.
Friday, 30 May
14:30 | Ama Ya Doğru Söylüyorsa
19:30 | Keşke Anlattıklarım Yalan Olsa
21:30 | Lemonade Turkish Comedy Club: Suat Eroğlu Stand-Up Night
Saturday, 31 May – Closing Day
14:30 | Keşke Anlattıklarım Yalan Olsa
19:00 | Ama Ya Doğru Söylüyorsa
22:00 | Closing Concert ft. Jamie & The 3rd Culture Collective
Inclusive Access: “Askıda Bilet” System
In keeping with its mission to democratise culture, the festival offers “Askıda Bilet”, a Turkish community tradition akin to suspended coffees—paying forward a ticket for those who cannot afford one. Audiences can anonymously donate tickets via the organiser’s email, ensuring accessibility for migrant women, students, and low-income theatre lovers.
A Community in Every Seat
What makes the Seasonal Actors Festival so vital is not just its performances, but its ecosystem. Posters line Turkish-run cafés in Stoke Newington. Workshops are open to teenage girls from diverse backgrounds. And in every foyer conversation, migration is not a burden—it’s a resource.
This is theatre as communal meal, not commercial product. A homemade soup, not a haute cuisine. It’s the kind of artistic nourishment that London, and the world, so desperately needs.
So Let the Curtain Rise
In an age where borders harden and narratives shrink, Mevsimlik Oyuncular reminds us that “masallar sınır bilmez”—stories know no borders. Through humour, pain, and play, they offer a theatre of presence, protest, and possibility.
So yes: yaşasın bazı şeyler. Some things are still worth believing in.
