PERFORMING THE FEMALE MEDDAH

- THE MALE TURKISH TRADITIONAL PUBLIC STORYTELLER THROUGH A FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE

This project is a contemporary and feminist reinterpretation of meddah, a traditional Turkish form of public storytelling historically performed by men. Traditionally taking place in public venues like coffeehouses, meddah performances used specific props and vocal techniques to narrate entertaining stories that addressed matters of public concern. In this project, the form is reclaimed by a woman performer and reshaped through a feminist lens. The content is reimagined to center on women’s lives, voices, and experiences—particularly those of silenced and oppressed women whose stories have long been ignored or marginalized. While drawing inspiration from the narrative techniques and dramaturgy of the traditional meddah, the project shifts focus toward themes such as gender-based inequalities, violence, and resistance. By doing so, it challenges the historically male-dominated structure of the form and opens space for alternative narratives in the public sphere. This reinterpretation not only revitalizes a cultural heritage but also creates a powerful platform for the stories of silenced women to be shared, heard, and acknowledged within a broader social and artistic context.