He staged his play in a “mini” hall during those difficult days… Goodbye Genco Erkal…

I had witnessed how the great master became a giant on stage while watching his one-man performance of Gogol’s “Diary of a Madman.” I was absolutely spellbound… Without bending or breaking, without falling apart, Genco Erkal lived for 86 years with his stance and his art, and he bid farewell standing tall…

He saw theater as a great love, a passion, “it cannot be any other way anyway… It is a great love, a place where fire ignites. One must participate in it with their whole heart…”

The Dostlar Theater, which he founded, has left 55 years behind.

He expressed the difficulties of trying to keep the theater, where he was the manager, artistic director, and an actor, afloat under harsh conditions...

“Because we chose to do political theater from the very beginning, and since our country has always been in political turmoil; March 12, followed by the September 12 coup… Every time I say ‘it can’t get worse than this,’ unfortunately, it gets worse…”

'VERY BLURRY, NOT CLEAR!'

He had recounted an incident that happened to him during the September 12 period on journalist and presenter Tuba Emlek’s program, stating that these days are more difficult than those: “I think the current situation is the worst. If you ask why, back then at least you could say that martial law set its own rules. Martial law imposes curfews, bans plays, bans our tours, puts plays on trial. For example, we were performing a play called ‘Her Gün Yeni Baştan’ (Every Day Anew). A decision came from the civil court stating that ‘there is no objection to this play.’ On the same day, Martial Law declared that ‘it is objectionable for the play to be performed.’ Of course, since their word carried more weight—the Kenan Evren era is well known—we took the play off. They took me in. But this time feels more terrifying to me. Because it is very blurry, not clear, you don’t know what will come from where. And it is gradually increasing. Moreover, it is claimed that we are experiencing advanced democracy…”

DURING THE SEPTEMBER 12 PERIOD, HE FIT INTO THE 'MINI' THEATER HALL OF BARO HAN

In the difficult conditions of September 12, during the 1980-81 period, the Dostlar Theater had to take refuge in the mini theater hall of Baro Han. Baro Han is the place built on Istiklal Avenue in the 1960s and began to be used as the central building of the Istanbul Bar Association. The one-man play titled ‘Her Gün Yeni Baştan,’ which Genco Erkal mentioned, was staged in this hall. The fact that the conditions did not allow for the preparation of a large production played an important role in this choice.

Years later, recalling those days, Genco Erkal filmed a part of the “Genco Erkal Documentary” in the Bar Association’s current Conference Hall.

'YEARS PASS, THOSE WHO BANNED THEM ARE NEVER REMEMBERED'

Genco Erkal, who had been battling cancer for some time, passed away this morning at the age of 86. For over 65 years, he practiced his art for these lands and the people of these lands. In line with the values he believed in, in the light of enlightenment, he stood by the oppressed and by labor. He took a stance on social issues. He continued to produce with courage even in difficult days…

Banned plays, penalties, pressures… Isn’t the quality of a person’s character revealed most in difficult days!

Life comes to an end... Looking back, what remains are the works produced and those that have become part of humanity’s common culture and etched into its memory…

As the master himself said, “But look, years pass, those who banned them are never remembered. But those works that were created emerge, prove themselves, everyone watches and appreciates them…”

Goodbye great master, no matter how much we thank you, it is not enough.

Rest in light, Genco Erkal…