Written by: Eray Yasin Işık
Directed by: Çiğdem Tunç
Assistant Director: Alper Çorumluoğlu
Music: Nida Şan
Poster Design: Ç.T.T.
Set Design: Adnan Güven
Choreography: Şebnem Erdener
Costumes: MGSM
Lighting Design: Yüksel Aymaz
Cast:
Çiğdem Tunç
Bertan Dirikolu
Sema Aras
Şebnem Erdener
Deniz Salman
Deniz Değirmenci
Alper Çorumluoğlu
Alp Balkan
Savaş Özkartal
Arif Boztepe
Derin Barutçugil
Cahide Sonku, the first female actor who rose to the status of a star in Turkish theater and cinema, was discovered at the age of 16 by the renowned artist and founder of Darülbedayi, Muhsin Ertuğrul. Through the opportunities he provided her at what is now known as the City Theaters and Turkish cinema, she showcased her talent and became a big star. However, her weaknesses, the wrong friendships she made, and the marriages she entered led her step by step into the abyss of alcoholism.
Our choices determine our fate. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, Cahide Sonku’s decisions and misfortunes serve as a cautionary tale for today’s youth. Reaching the top is easy, but staying there is incredibly difficult. As in her life, falling from great heights leads to tragic consequences.
In this play, we wanted to shine a light on Cahide Sonku’s tumultuous life story with the pen of a young writer. Eray Yasin Işık, who is both a beloved actor and the lead writer of the popular TV series 80’ler, brings her story to life. Through a stylized narrative and flashbacks, the play begins with the time of her downfall, then takes us through her rise to fame, witnessing the figures that shaped her life, including Muhsin Ertuğrul, Semiha Berksoy, Talat Artemel, İhsan Doruk, Zeki Müren, Cahit Irgat, Atilla Dorsay, and how they influenced her emotions, both positively and negatively.
We will experience these famous personalities through our talented and well-known actors, delivering the role until the tragic day in 1981 when Cahide Sonku passed away alone outside the Alcadras Cinema in Beyoğlu. We wish to send her life story to the audience’s hearts with humor, laughter, and tears, just as her life naturally unfolded. With honesty, without hurting memories, and in a deeply touching manner.
The general artistic director, Çiğdem Tunç, who will portray both the maturity and later years of Cahide Sonku’s character, says:
"May her soul rest in peace. Cahide Sonku shone like a star, and even as her life ended like a bird with broken wings, she wished to be remembered and applauded after her death, not now. We hope to present a work worthy of you. Enjoy the show."