New Text Festival 12

New Text Theatre Festival 12 – Theatre Beyond Borders

Since 2012, GalataPerform has organized the New Text Theatre Festival, aimed at discovering first-time playwrights and opening an innovative, original, and brave space in theatre. This year marks the 12th edition, running from November 24 to December 4, 2023

The festival highlights its international structure under the theme “Theatre Beyond Borders”, creating a space where Turkish writers and directors meet artists from abroad. With participation from many foreign playwrights and directors, the festival opens doors to fresh discussions and idea exchanges in the field through talks, new plays, performances, workshops, and staged readings, and connects international theatre stages .

Support & Partners

  • Supported by the Republic of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Directorate of Copyright under “Theatre Beyond Borders.”

  • International partners include: Danish Consulate and the Danish Cultural Institute in Turkey, the Norwegian Embassy, Swedish Consulate General and Swedish Arts Council, British Council, and the Portuguese Camões Institute

  • Under the heading Nordic Focus, continuing sustainable events by writers and directors from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden .

  • Supported by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality – Visit Istanbul.

  • Workshops by international authors/directors sponsored by Mey Diageo.

  • “Play of the Year” award (from New Text Workshops) sponsored by Free Stage PPA.

  • “The Jungle” reading and talk, in collaboration with Good Chance Theatre and GalataPerform, supported by British Council Creative Collaborations

Venues & Spaces

  • Venue supporters: Akbank Sanat, Dasdas, Kadir Has University, Bahçeşehir University BAU PERA, Salt Galata, Postane Galata, Hope Alkazar, Balat Monologues Museum, Sendika Beyoğlu

  • Participating theatre venues in Beyoğlu hosting new play readings include: Asmalı Sahne, Bahçe Galata, BeReZe Gösteri Evi, Kumbaracı50, Taksim Ara Sahne, Tatavla Sahne

About GalataPerform

  • GalataPerform is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

  • Founded in 2003 in Galata by Yeşim Özsoy, it has consistently created innovative and contemporary theatre through plays, projects, festivals, and workshops

  • Originating in 2002 as “Ve Diğer Şeyler Topluluğu” (And Other Things Collective), it produced plays like Ev Kakofonik Bir Oyun, Aksak İstanbul Hikayeleri, Noter, Playback, and 3. Evren, mostly written and directed by Özsoy

  • Focused on new texts, interdisciplinarity, and new technologies, the group launched the Visibility Project (2004–2012), the New Text New Theatre project and festival, along with many other events

  • In 2006, with Ceren Ercan, Mark Levitas, Dilek Altuntaş, and Yeşim Özsoy, the New Text New Theatre project began—bringing new writers and directors into Turkish theatre. Since then, over 60 writers/directors from around 20 countries have visited Istanbul, and nearly 100 new texts have been introduced to Turkish theatre.

  • In 2020, they launched YeniPerform, a digital platform for new plays, workshops, and publications. The New Text Theatre Festival continues through international events across multiple platforms.

Festival Contacts

  • Festival Director: Yeşim Özsoy

  • Workshop & Project Director: Ferdi Çetin

  • Festival Coordinator: Simla Güran

  • International Relations Coordinators: Itır Karabulut, Emre Denizoğlu