Play sheds light on Assassins of Alamut on theater stage after terrorist cult's coup attempt

Written by Betül Odabaşı Törk and directed by Istanbul State Theater Director Zafer Kayaokay, "Alamut," a theatrical play centered on "Assassins" (Hashashin), debuted at the Kartal Bülent Ecevit Cultural Center on Oct. 20 in collaboration with the Foundation of Theatrical Arts Academy, in a display of Turkey's impeccable knowledge of theater performances.

Speaking during the general rehearsal of the play, Kayaokay said that Hasan-i Sabbah, the Assassin leader, interprets Islamic teachings in a perverted way.

Pointing out that they have been working on the play for the past six months, Kayaokay recalled that prior to the July 15 failed coup attempt, they had decided to put the play on stage during its current season but faced setbacks, "We experienced an unexpected and undesired coup attempt on July 15. I merely identify our play with the story we went through during the attempted coup," Kayaokay said.


Veteran actor Atilla Olgaç, who plays Hassan-i Sabbah, said despite having portrayed many evil characters onstage, his audiences have never reacted negatively to his performances, adding, "On the contrary, they see my good side in the evil character I play and showed me love."

Suggesting that the play reflects his personal experience at the State Theater as well as his efforts and strength, Kayaokay said the play aims to tell people what is good and what is bad; the things they should not get themselves into and how ambitions and desires can take us away from the right path from time to time and put us on the wrong one.

Veteran actor Atilla Olgaç, who plays Hassan-i Sabbah, spoke about his 45-year acting career while describing his role in the play, saying, "Playing a character is like wearing a costume; you like it, you rehearse to wear it and put it on -- if the rehearsal goes smoothly. For us, all these phases are easy. The important thing is to know the background about the character; who he/she is and what his personality is all about. It is important to discover how he walks, sits and looks as well as how his brain works."

Stressing the fact that the play is based on true events, Olgaç said, "We are artists, so I do not make political comments on the play personally. I am only animating this character. The audience will form their own ideas about the play. The purpose of art is to present certain things to the audience and leave the ultimate verdict up to them. The main objective of art is to help the public learn something and inform them [regarding the topic]. Personal political opinions have no place in the play. The important thing is the message that the play aims to deliver."

Olgaç said that despite having portrayed many evil characters onstage, his audiences have never reacted negatively to his performances, adding, "On the contrary, they see my good side in the evil character I play and showed me love. Thank God, I was never 'stoned' like the late actor Erol Taş," he concluded.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Production Director and Art Director Mustafa Odabaşı expressed his enthusiasm for the play's recent debut, saying, "We are very excited. Given the rhythm of the play, it will settle in time after three-to-four performances," Odabaşı said, suggesting that the audience's reactions will grow with each passing day.

Odabaşı stressed that it is the current topic of each period and there are likes of Hasan-i Sabbah that try to use the masses all the time.

"In any closed sect or organization structure, the ideas of the top and bottom sections are actually different. While those who run the organization believe in something, the people at the bottom believe in something entirely different," Odabaşı said. "It is like what we see happening in the Middle East currently. One person can blow himself up with the hope that he will go to heaven."

Stating that many aspects of the play are addressing modern-day issues, Odabaşı said they tried to bring forward the vast difference between organization leaders and their believers and introduce it to more masses.

Including Fatih Kılıç and Mustafa Odabaşı backstage as the production and art directors, "Alamut" is put on the stage by Attila Olgaç, Başak Özel, Gürkan Güzeyhuz, Duygu Yürükçe, Fatih Altun, Cumhur Arat, Kemalettin Caymaz, Serhan Süsler, Dilara Aras, Ergin Düzgün, İbrahim Tül, Alper Atak, Özlem Olgun, Koray Kuru, Fatih Boyalı, Ali Suvacı, Halil İbrahim Babur, Fatih Boyalı, Koray Kuru and Ali Suvacı.