The last significant presentation of the “Rebirth: Renaissance Talk Series” took place on January 17, 2020, given by Selim Bayraktar, an actor of Antalya State Theater and a recipient of the “Best Actor” award from “Sadri Alışık Anadolu Tiyatro Awards” for his role as Othello.

In her introductory remarks, Prof. Dr. Mine Özyurt Kılıç set the tone by tracing the reception and popularity of Shakespeare’s plays and poems in Turkey from the late Ottoman period to the present day through various anecdotes.

In his captivating, interactive talk on “Playing Shakespeare in Turkey,” Bayraktar threw light on the plays and characters of Shakespeare from the vantage point of an actor. To give a practical demonstration of the real stage feel, he made a student from among the audience to join him on the stage. He also highlighted the great value and universality of the cultural treasure of the Anatolian region citing examples from Shakespeare’s plays exuberating the Renaissance spirit. Besides, he underscored the beauties as well as difficulties of enacting Shakespeare’s plays in Turkish. He also related some interesting anecdotes about how the natives received and appreciated Shakespeare’s characters in Bayraktar's rendering around Turkey.

The talk was followed by a lively question-answer session centring on issues mainly about theatre and cinema acting, staging and Renaissance, in which students participated as enthusiastically as others.

Lastly, a 'Certificate of Appreciation' was presented to Bayraktar by Prof. Dr. Mine Özyurt Kılıç, chair of the Department. The valuable contribution of all other members of the department towards the conception, execution and success of the Series was also gratefully acknowledged.

Registering great interest and participation from various universities in Ankara, the Series was thus concluded.