The third day of the Amed Theatre Festival stood out with plays and discussions focusing on women’s struggle and freedom of expression.

Organised by Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality City Theatre (DBŞT), the 11th International Amed Theatre Festival continued at full pace on its third day with panels and theatre performances. Bringing the transformative power of art to the stage, the festival offered audiences moments that were both thought-provoking and emotionally powerful.

One of the highlights of the day was the panel titled “The Transformation of Theatre”, moderated by Süreyya Karacabey. The panel, featuring Dr Jessica Kaahwa, President of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), focused on the concept of “participatory theatre”. Kaahwa underlined that theatre is not merely something to be watched, but a space created collectively, drawing attention to the importance of social interaction. Inviting volunteer audience members onto the stage for an improvised performance, Kaahwa demonstrated through a live example the journey from conflict towards understanding. “Peace is a slow process, but it is possible,” Kaahwa said, stressing that everyone must take responsibility.

Brave Women leaves its mark on the stage

One of the festival’s most striking productions was Brave Women – Remembering into the Present (Mutige Frauen – Erinnern ins Jetzt), a collective work by five women theatre-makers from Switzerland. Directed and adapted by Anina Jendreyko, the play brought to the stage the stories of women who resisted oppression across different periods and geographies.

Inspired by real-life stories, the production powerfully showed how fear and despair can be transformed into courage. Drawing on figures ranging from Eren Keskin and Nagihan Akarsel to Hevrîn Xelef and Emma Goldman, the play came to life on stage through the performances of Carmen Dalfogo, Berfin Emektar, Ewi Saoulidou and Clémence Gabrielidis. Bringing together song, dance and spoken word, the production took the audience on both an emotional and political journey and was met with great acclaim.

A two-layered narrative in Bahar Noktası Soruşturması

Another notable production staged as part of the festival was BGST Tiyatro’s new work Bahar Noktası Soruşturması. Performed in the Grand Hall of Çand Amed Culture and Congress Centre, the play is based on Bahar Noktası, Can Yücel’s Turkish rendering of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Directed and structured by a collective team, the play stands out with its two-layered form. On one level, Shakespeare’s magical world is staged, while on another, the audience is presented with a narrative woven through the actors’ statements and interrogation records. As the dreamlike atmosphere on stage gradually turns into a space of inquiry, the play opens up a strong political discussion on theatre’s relationship with freedom of expression and the public sphere.

Co-Mayor Serra Bucak watches Brave Women

Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Serra Bucak also attended the festival performance of Brave Women – Remembering into the Present (Mutige Frauen – Erinnern ins Jetzt). Taking to the stage after the performance to present plaques to the actors, Bucak drew attention to the universality of women’s struggle.

In her speech, Bucak said: “It was a play that truly showed how universal women’s language is; the international character of their struggle for peace and freedom; that women are one another’s homeland; and that every woman is another woman’s memory — a line stretching from Nagihan to Clara that will never be broken.”