Passion defeats handicap on stage
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Anatolia News Agency
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 05, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - Göktuğ Tulga Demiralp, who was paralyzed in a traffic accident, is the first handicapped actor in the State Theaters. He is acting in the play 'Guitar' staged as part of a social responsibility project. He complains that acting schools in Turkey do not accept people with disabilities.
"When I went to watch a play at State Theaters for the first time in primary school, I said, ’I must be on stage.’ Now I want to be the first handicapped actor on the permanent staff at the State Theaters."
These are the words of Göktuğ Tolga Demiralp, who never stopped trying to realize his dreams. Despite his disability, he never abandoned his dream of becoming an actor.
Demiralp is proud of himself for acting in the State Theaters’ production of "Guitar." "Once you have experience on stage, you can’t live without the theater," he said.
Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Demiralp said his passion for theater started when he went to a theater play in primary school. He realized that he wanted to be involved in theater but not as part of the audience so he decided to become a stage actor.
Demiralp said he had acted in many amateur plays while he was in school, but after a traffic accident, he was confined to a wheelchair. He said he had tried to get used to his new situation for some time, during which he watched many plays to find an answer to his question of how he could act in plays despite his disability.
After graduating from the Bilkent University Faculty of Business in 2003, Demiralp could not find a job despite being able to speak fluent English and German. He said he had talked with State Theaters General Director Lemi Bilgin about his desire to become an actor and the situation in theaters for people like him.
Not a handicapped character
"I want to become a theater actor, but it is very difficult in Turkey under these circumstances," Demiralp said. But he found hope in a protocol signed by the State Theaters General Directorate and the Directorate for the Handicapped.
He said he played a character who is not handicapped but excluded by society in "Guitar."
"A disabled person does not have to play the role of a handicapped character in any case," he said. "I can play the role of a healthy character in case a necessary change is made in the text. I proved it in this play."
Demiralp said he felt the significance of the State Theaters when he first took the stage. "People are used to a profile on the stage. I was afraid of destroying it but received very positive reactions. Of course, there were some difficulties especially in rehearsals, but it is worth it. The State Theaters has given a role to a disabled person for the first time. I am also proud of being the first in this sense and hope that it will continue. Perhaps the State Theaters will offer permanent benefits for the handicapped in the future."
Demiralp said he was acting in the play under contract but that he wanted to get theater education, but he complained that conservatories did not accept artists with disabilities. "In my opinion, this is a shame of Turkey. It is possible to see similar educations abroad. There are even handicapped trainers. Why not in Turkey?" he said.
Demiralp said the play "Guitar," which they performed as part of a social responsibility project, was the first of its kind in Turkey.
"It shows that a handicapped person can act in theater," he said. "I ask President Abdullah Gül, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay to view the play."
’GuItar’ performed for Free
As part of a social responsibility project, the State Theaters General Directorate will stage "Guitar" for free. According to a written statement, the play was adapted from Michel Del Castello by Semih Çelenk and was first performed March 23 in Küçük Theater. The play will be staged for free today, on May 8, 10 and 17 in Ankara’s Stüdyo Sahne. Tickets are available at the Ankara State Theaters box office.
These are the words of Göktuğ Tolga Demiralp, who never stopped trying to realize his dreams. Despite his disability, he never abandoned his dream of becoming an actor.
Demiralp is proud of himself for acting in the State Theaters’ production of "Guitar." "Once you have experience on stage, you can’t live without the theater," he said.
Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Demiralp said his passion for theater started when he went to a theater play in primary school. He realized that he wanted to be involved in theater but not as part of the audience so he decided to become a stage actor.
Demiralp said he had acted in many amateur plays while he was in school, but after a traffic accident, he was confined to a wheelchair. He said he had tried to get used to his new situation for some time, during which he watched many plays to find an answer to his question of how he could act in plays despite his disability.
After graduating from the Bilkent University Faculty of Business in 2003, Demiralp could not find a job despite being able to speak fluent English and German. He said he had talked with State Theaters General Director Lemi Bilgin about his desire to become an actor and the situation in theaters for people like him.
Not a handicapped character
"I want to become a theater actor, but it is very difficult in Turkey under these circumstances," Demiralp said. But he found hope in a protocol signed by the State Theaters General Directorate and the Directorate for the Handicapped.
He said he played a character who is not handicapped but excluded by society in "Guitar."
"A disabled person does not have to play the role of a handicapped character in any case," he said. "I can play the role of a healthy character in case a necessary change is made in the text. I proved it in this play."
Demiralp said he felt the significance of the State Theaters when he first took the stage. "People are used to a profile on the stage. I was afraid of destroying it but received very positive reactions. Of course, there were some difficulties especially in rehearsals, but it is worth it. The State Theaters has given a role to a disabled person for the first time. I am also proud of being the first in this sense and hope that it will continue. Perhaps the State Theaters will offer permanent benefits for the handicapped in the future."
Demiralp said he was acting in the play under contract but that he wanted to get theater education, but he complained that conservatories did not accept artists with disabilities. "In my opinion, this is a shame of Turkey. It is possible to see similar educations abroad. There are even handicapped trainers. Why not in Turkey?" he said.
Demiralp said the play "Guitar," which they performed as part of a social responsibility project, was the first of its kind in Turkey.
"It shows that a handicapped person can act in theater," he said. "I ask President Abdullah Gül, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay to view the play."
’GuItar’ performed for Free
As part of a social responsibility project, the State Theaters General Directorate will stage "Guitar" for free. According to a written statement, the play was adapted from Michel Del Castello by Semih Çelenk and was first performed March 23 in Küçük Theater. The play will be staged for free today, on May 8, 10 and 17 in Ankara’s Stüdyo Sahne. Tickets are available at the Ankara State Theaters box office.