Dede Korkut

Premiered in 2014, DEDE KORKUT presents a new take on one of the most important legends in Turkic literary history: The »Book of Dede Korkut« is traditionally regarded as the “founding myth” of the Turkic peoples. Marc Sinan’s reinterpretation draws parallels between this epic story and the most recent global epidemic of hatred and marginalisation.

Told from the perspective of the monster, Sinan presents this heroic tale as a multimedia-based reflection on the role of the outsider in modern society. In collaboration with the Dresdner Sinfoniker, Sinan brings this reinterpretation of the story, which is widely regarded as a veiled homage to nationalism, to the European stage for the very first time.

The German Sunday newspaper »Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung« applauded the show as “a monstrously impressive theatrical composition”, while »taz« was just one of several other media outlets to praise its “magnificent production”. Sponsored by the EU, this international coproduction has already toured to much acclaim throughout Europe and in Turkey. Due to its resounding success with audiences and critics alike, the show had another run at the Maxim Gorki Theater in Berlin in 2015. On stage, the action features a blend of Central Asian folk songs and contemporary compositions, live music and audiovisual recordings from Central Asia – all of which intertwine to create an exciting “musical universal tale” that leaves a lasting impression (»Berliner Zeitung«).