The Forest of the Witch

‘The Forest of the Witch’ is a traditional Turkish shadow theatre performance. It has been adapted from the 19th-century text “Bloody Poplar, with a contemporary interpretation, and the play centers around a universal theme. Karagöz, who cuts down a tree growing in front of his house, encounters an unexpected surprise: the tree is magical, and from now on, nothing will be the same.

The story includes iconic American characters and humorously conveys the importance of preserving nature and respecting differences. The characters are designed using the original techniques recognized in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list and are crafted through the embroidery of camel or buffalo skin, much like how it was done 700 years ago. Throughout the play, these characters adorned with special paints come to life through the hands of a single artist, just like in traditional art. The Forest of the Witch, which has been performed to sold-out audiences for 8 seasons, has toured nearly 40 states in the United States.

The artist meticulously crafts all characters by hand, transferring them onto leather in the traditional style, and performs every role himself, bringing the tale to life in a one-of-a-kind performance.

The play, which made history as the first 700-year-old Turkish theatre play to be performed on Broadway, is a one-man show by Ayhan Hulagu and has been staged at numerous international festivals to date.

For all ages.

Running time: 45 minutes.