Ses 1885 (Ortaoyuncular Theatre)
Among the memorable landmarks of Beyoğlu, a building that has witnessed history… Ses 1885, perhaps Istanbul’s most famous theater stage, is a 140-year-old venue with a horseshoe-shaped balcony, ornate ceilings, and historic boxes. Designed by Greek architect Patrokli Campanaki, the building was originally conceived as a circus and variety venue in the backyard of Halep Passage on İstiklal Avenue; however, after the 1904 fire, Campanaki rebuilt the current stage on the same site as a permanent theater. Known as one of the most acoustically unique halls in the world, the venue served as a theater for 87 years and as a cinema for 17 years before being transformed in 1989 by Ferhan Şensoy into the home of “Ortaoyuncular” (traditional Turkish improvised theater).
The Ortaoyuncular troupe has remained true to its distinctive artistic style since its founding. Although concerns about the future of the stage arose after Ferhan Şensoy’s passing in 2021, Ses 1885 has kept its doors open with a new generation of performers. Watching a play in this historic venue isn’t just an artistic experience but also a way to connect with the living memory of Turkish theater.
For more information, you can visit the official Ses 1885 website, available in Turkish.
AKM Theatre Hall
Etched into Istanbul’s skyline, this iconic structure reopened on October 29, 2021, bringing renewed energy to the city’s cultural and artistic life. The new building was designed by Murat Tabanlıoğlu, son of Hayati Tabanlıoğlu, who designed the original structure. The renovation preserved the building’s characteristic features and iconic identity. The dialogue between father and son, sustained over decades for the structure, elevates the Atatürk Cultural Center far beyond a mere building. Located at the entrance to Kültür Sokağı, the Theatre Hall is equipped with advanced acoustic, lighting, and visual systems. With a capacity of 777, it is equally suited to opera, ballet, and theater, and sits at the heart of Taksim.
For more information, visit the AKM website.
Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre
Set along the green slopes of the Dolmabahçe Valley, this open-air theater is among the first places that come to mind when thinking of summer in Istanbul. Envisioned in the 1930s Istanbul master plan by French urban planner Henri Prost, the structure was designed by architects Nihat Yücel and Nahit Uysal during the tenure of governor and mayor Lütfi Kırdar and opened in 1947. Its façade, built with alternating use of küfeki and Uzunköprü stones, gives the structure a distinctive look. With its semicircular seating reminiscent of ancient theaters and a capacity of 4,532, Harbiye remains an essential summer destination for theater lovers in Istanbul.
Üsküdar Tekel Stage
On Istanbul’s Asian side stands a theater whose roots go back to the 18th century. Commissioned by Selim III in 1798–99 as a grain warehouse, the building was later converted into a tobacco depot. In 2009, it was revived as Tekel Stages by the Istanbul State Theatres. Built from cut stone and set close to the Bosphorus, this historic structure is one of Istanbul’s most atmospheric theaters. With a main hall seating about 200 and a studio stage, Üsküdar Tekel Stage offers an active year-round program, turning an ordinary evening into something entirely different.
Bademler Village Theater, Urla
A village with a stage… Bademler Village Theatre, Türkiye’s first modern village theatre, has been kept alive since 1932 by amateur performers from the village. The theatre tradition took root under the guidance of teacher Mustafa Anarat, who was appointed to the village in 1927 and staged the first play with villagers in 1933.
Performances continued on temporary stages until 1969, when the group moved into a permanent theater building, completed through the collective effort of the Bademler community. Everyone involved, on stage and behind the scenes, is part of the village. With a 150-seat indoor hall and a garden that accommodates 500–600 people, the village hosts the annual Toprak Sahne Festival each summer. The village also inspired Metin Erksan’s award-winning film Susuz Yaz (Dry Summer), which won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. Located about 40 kilometers from İzmir, Bademler deserves a prominent place on any Aegean itinerary.
Ordu Cultural Arts Center
Along the theater route to the Black Sea coast, Ordu is a stop that should not be overlooked. Located in the city center, the Ordu Cultural Arts Center brings together theater, concerts, exhibitions, and conferences under one roof. With its modern stage infrastructure and large seating capacity, the venue regularly hosts national touring productions, welcoming not only regional artists but also performers from across Türkiye. Set beside hazelnut orchards and the Black Sea shoreline, the venue makes Ordu one of the region’s key cultural destinations.
İzmir Elhamra Stage
Located in İzmir, the pearl of the Aegean, Elhamra Stage is one of the city’s most distinguished historic structures, renowned for its architecture. Within walking distance of Konak Square, the building is a refined example of the First National Architectural Movement.
Opened in 1926 as İzmir’s largest cinema, the structure gradually evolved into a performing arts venue and began hosting performances by the İzmir State Opera and Ballet. With ceiling decorations featuring neo-classical Turkish motifs, intricately crafted boxes, and balanced acoustics, Elhamra Stage offers a powerful atmosphere, both visually and acoustically. Hosting opera, ballet, and theater performances, this historic venue continues to play an important role in İzmir’s cultural life.
Edirne State Theater
How does a place where camels were stabled become a theater? Built in 1609, during the reign of Sultan Ahmet I, the Ekmekçizade Ahmet Pasha Caravanserai was described in Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatname as having “a capacity of 200 hearts and one thousand horses”. Now, the Caravanserai serves as the Edirne State Theater, where history and modernity come together. Featuring an expansive courtyard, closed areas and an 850-square-meter “camel” section, the former Caravanserai is transformed into a theater stage with a capacity of 220 people and special lighting systems. Blending the legendary Silk Road markers with today’s fairy tales, this Theater is a most fascinating place.
Ankara Küçük Theater
Among Ankara’s stages is a little theater with a big story. It is the “small giant theater” in Ankara, as they say. The small stage of the Ankara State Theater, an architectural gem, is actually the Evkaf Apartment, on a narrow street in old Ankara. The former set and costume warehouse under the building was converted into a theater hall in 1947 by Muhsin Ertuğrul with the support of the government. It has hosted hundreds of plays and millions of theatergoers since the late 1940s. The dome of the building provides excellent acoustics and it is particularly wonderful for children’s plays. Get your ticket and get ready for a big leap into time.
Krek
The Krek Theater, founded by Berkun Oya and Ali Atay in 1998, is one of the most interesting on this list. The Company, which has received many awards and performed original works since its foundation in Istanbul, does not actually have a fixed location. After closing their stages at Bilgi University Eyüp Campus, Krek appeared again, in 2019, at Volkswagen Arena with a surprise. What makes Krek unique is not exterior architecture but the way the Company reconsiders theater and the stage. The play is performed behind glass on the stage and spectators listen via headphones at their seats. Leave your expectations at home and follow Krek into a completely different experience.
İzmir State Theater
A 92-year-old veteran of the Izmir State Theater, the Konak Stage offers an ambiance where history and art blend seamlessly. It is a unique address for theater lovers, due to its fascinating architecture. After a long restoration process, the stage in Konak Square has all the technical equipment necessary for contemporary theater. Enjoy a coffee in the garden, enjoy the historical atmosphere and definitely watch a play in its magnificent acoustic hall. Of course, it isn’t that easy to get tickets!
Zorlu Center PSM
Zorlu PSM, which made a global impact and has hosted international events since its opening, is an enormous technological wonder set on 55 acres in the middle of Istanbul. Zorlu has world-standard theater halls that can accommodate almost every type of performance. The Grand Hall, with a capacity of 2,262 people, can host Broadway shows and West End musicals. The 738-seat Small Hall, as well as several other stages of different sizes and capacities, feature high-end advanced sound systems. Zorlu PSM continues to excite theater fans with new productions every day. Get your ticket and come to Zorlu for a show, a play, a concert and more!
Ankara Opera Stage
Meet one of the most beautiful buildings of Ankara. Ankara Opera Stage, also known as Ankara State Opera and Ballet Building, is one of the most iconic structures of the republican period in Türkiye.
The Exhibition House (also known as the Exhibition Palace), built in 1933 under the leadership of the famous architect Şevki Balmumcu, who won the international competition opened in 1931, was converted into an Opera House by the German architect Paul Bonatz in 1947-48. Paul Bonatz was one of the pioneers of the Second National Architecture Movement in the 1940s, when he was in Türkiye. Among the best-known examples of this architectural movement, there are distinguished works that we can call the modern interpretation of Ottoman and Seljuk architecture such as Anıtkabir, Çanakkale Martyrs’ Monument and Istanbul Radio House. In this sense, the Ankara Opera Stage is one of the most well-known structures of the Second National Architectural Movement.
Ankara Opera Stage, which was opened on April 2, 1948, continues to be one of the most important stages in Türkiye in terms of both its architectural style and historical significance.
