ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Euripides’ 2,500-year-old tragedy, Medea, made its Kurdish-language debut in the Kurdish city of Amed (Diyarbakir) in southeastern Turkey at the Diyarbakir Metropolitan Municipality City Theater, bringing a 2,500-year-old story of a woman's resistance against betrayal and oppression to Kurdish audiences.
The play was adapted into Kurdish by the writer Aziz Nemati and directed by Mardin-based playwright Zelal Angay. Acclaimed Kurdish-Iranian (Rojhelati) actress Shabnam Yousefi portrayed Medea's confrontation with betrayal, tyranny, and patriarchal oppression.
The ancient themes draw relevance given the prevalence of gender-based violence today, Angay told Rudaw's Abdulsalam Akinci on Sunday.
"Medea truly resembles Kurdish women. Kurdish women truly resemble Medea," she said. "Unfortunately, this reality and violence against women have not ended in 2,500 years. That is why this play is still on stage."
Yousefi, who portrays Medea, highlighted the strength of women and their ability to stand against oppression.
"There is a monologue that says, 'A woman's heart is tender and full of love, but in conflict she is formidable. Because her world is not one of destruction, she is the goddess of creation and construction,'" Yousefi said.
Written by ancient Greek playwright Euripides, Medea was first performed in 431 BCE. It tells the story of a woman who confronts betrayal and oppression after being abandoned by her husband.
The play has since been translated and performed in dozens of languages, with the Kurdish adaptation bringing the classical tragedy to a new audience.
Kurdish theater has played an important role in preserving the language and cultural identity of Kurds in Turkey, particularly during periods when Kurdish-language artistic expression faced restrictions. Amed has since become an important center for Kurdish theater.
Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality City Theater held the 11th International Amed Theatre Festival this year under the theme “Dialogue for Peace” from late April until May, bringing theater companies from 19 countries together in Diyarbakır. A total of 22 plays were staged as part of the festival.
