Tale of Ottoman passion and intrigue takes to the stage in Poland

Titled “Aşk-ı Hürrem” (The Love of Hürrem), the play is based on a well-known episode in Ottoman history. It starts with the capture of Hürrem, a Ukrainian woman. She is subsequently sold in a slave bazaar and is eventually placed in the harem of Sultan Suleiman, whose attention she quickly captures. Attracting the jealousy of her rivals, she had disputes with her fellow concubine Gülbahar (also known as Mahidevran) and the Grand Vizier İbrahim Pasha, who had a very high level of authority, ending with the execution of both Gülbahar and İbrahim Pasha.

The theater, directed by Kemal Başar, features music from Atilla's albums “Cariyeler ” and “Aşk-ı Hürrem”.

The five-day festival, which started last year, is organized by the Modrzejewskiej Theater.

Twenty young actors and actresses from the Modrzejewskiej Theater will join Turkish performers Volkan Ersoy, Seda Özyalçın and Özgür Adam İnanç, who are the main actors in the show. Ersoy is also the choreographer of the performance.

Başar is an adviser for many international festivals, particularly in Eastern Europe, and his new show will go on to other events after its Polish debut.

Basar is also the theater department director for Hayal Sahnesi (Dream Theater) in Ankara, which was founded by State Opera Orchestra timpani musician Baygın, State Opera and Ballet leader Ersoy and Presidential Symphony Orchestra viola artist Bahadır Başabak.