Tuesday 24 November saw the staging of Aksak Delirium at Alan Kadıköy as part of the 30. Istanbul Theatre Festival by IKSV, bringing together contemporary apocalyptic myth-making and live experimental soundscapes. Written and directed by Yeşim Özsoy for GalataPerform, the production uses an ordinary cafe setting to reflect mounting existential anxiety, weaving timeless mythological motifs into modern socio-ecological collapse. What sets the piece apart as a festival highlight is its direct integration of live sound and music designed by Murat Ertel, transforming a theatrical dialogue into a multi-sensory commentary on societal fragmentation. Tickets are available via Passo.
GalataPerform has long stood as one of the most vital hubs for contemporary playwriting and experimental theater in the region. Founded in 2003 by Yeşim Özsoy, the independent company has spearheaded initiatives like New Writing Turkey, consistently cultivating original local plays that tackle urgent contemporary themes through inventive staging. Over two decades, GalataPerform has built a reputation for stripping away traditional theatrical decorum in favor of intimate, text-driven works that confront the anxieties of modern life head-on.
The sonic landscape of the piece benefits significantly from the involvement of Murat Ertel, best known as the founding member, multi-instrumentalist, and frontman of the seminal psychedelic group BaBa ZuLa. Drawing on his decades of experience pioneering Anatolian psychedelic soundscapes and experimental improvisation, Ertel provides a live auditory backbone that mirrors the play’s escalating tension. His presence links the theatrical narrative directly to the lineage of Turkish countercultural sound, elevating the production beyond a conventional stage play into an immersive performance.
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