Even though Istanbul is a beautiful city most of us love living in; it can also be chaotic and stressful and tiring, leaving most of us in need of some entertainment and some laughs. Recently, Istanbul has been hosting comedy shows with different themes in Turkish and English, welcoming comedians from several different countries and backgrounds. Audience members get to enjoy themselves as well as learn about different experiences people go through while living in Turkey.
With this idea, we’d like to invite you to Istanbul&I’s comedy show on the 28th of July, 2018 in Damdayız for Ha Ha Hanımlar: Revenge of the Teyze! I bet you’re thinking ‘Hmm, I have heard the word teyze but what is it exactly? How is that related to the comedy show?’ or ‘My Turkish is only good enough to order a beer and thank people, I don’t know this word’. Teyze means aunt in Turkish and is used as a term of endearment for older Turkish women. All of us are surrounded by teyzes in İstanbul. From the ones who burn you with their stares on the metro until you give them your seat, to the neighbor teyzes who don’t shy away from asking you personal questions about your relationship status, weight, and salary, to the funny teyzes who start chatting with you in the market line — teyzes are always full of wisdom while surprising you with their sense of humor!
There is a silly stereotype that women are not funny and comedy is a boys’ club, but here we are, ready to ‘take revenge’ and destroy that idea! This is the second iteration of Ha Ha Hanımlar: the all-women comedy show that Istanbul&I had last year. Ha Ha Hanımlar; Revenge of the Teyze is ready to prove once again how funny women are, with comedians performing from as far lands as Iran, England, USA, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Japan and more! All the comedians are based in Istanbul and they will talk about their experiences with life, love and the pursuit of humor in this lovely city. You will listen to these women whose experiences of womanhood transcend border and culture, their personal stories of how modern women deal with stereotypes imposed upon them, and how they dedicate themselves to rid the world of such generalizations through humor.
The show will be in English and all the money collected will go towards the fundraiser of Istanbul&I, a volunteer youth community dedicated to creating social impact. Donations will be used for Istanbul&I’s programs, including projects for young refugees, social inclusion programs, and much more. Come to watch our amazing comedians who will make you laugh for a great cause. See you there!
