Karagöz Performance of "Forest of the Witch"
Thursday, 16 Feb 2023 at 6:00 pm – Great Hall, Memorial Union
The Forest of the Witch is a modern interpretation of a traditional Anatolian shadow play adapted and performed by Ayhan Hulagu. When Karagöz, the hero of traditional Anatolian shadow plays, cuts the branches from a magical tree, he is transformed into a series of animals, which leads to a comic sequence of adventures. Along the way, Karagöz and his sidekick Hacivat learn the importance of nature and protecting the environment. Hulagu has performed The Forest of the Witch on Broadway and in theatres across the country.Karagöz is a form of Turkish shadow theatre dating back nearly 700 years and was declared an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009.The show features traditional music and puppets hand-crafted in the Ottoman Empire style, with all the characters performed by Hulagu. This show is appropriate for all ages.
Ayhan Hulagu is a professional actor, writer, and master puppeteer. Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, he is one of only a handful of living artists in the world trained in the traditional Karagöz form. In 2017, he moved to the United States where he founded the Karagoz Theatre. Less than three years later, he made history as the first artist to bring Karagöz to Broadway. In addition to performing throughout the United States, Hulagu has been a guest artist at multiple U.S. colleges and universities including Harvard, Cornell, MIT, and UC Berkeley.
Stay for the entire event, including the brief question-and-answer session that follows the formal presentation. Most events run 75 minutes.
Sign-ins are after the event concludes. For lectures in the Memorial Union, go to the information desk in the Main Lounge. In other academic buildings, look for signage outside the auditorium.
Lecture Etiquette
- Stay for the entire lecture and the brief audience Q&A. If a student needs to leave early, he or she should sit near the back and exit discreetly.
- Do not bring food or uncovered drinks into the lecture.
- Check with Lectures staff before taking photographs or recording any portion of the event. There are often restrictions. Cell phones, tablets and laptops may be used to take notes or for class assignments.
- Keep questions or comments brief and concise to allow as many as possible.