On the occasion of World Theatre Day on March 27, the Kurdish cultural organizations TEV-ÇAND and Hunera Mizgîn emphasized the role of theater in social and political resistance. In a joint statement, they also commemorated the pioneers of Kurdish theater as well as fallen cultural figures:
“Against darkness, our greatest strength is to make the light of our consciousness and spirit visible, to share it, and thereby increase what is bright. We know that the path to this lies in strengthening work, solidarity, collective sharing, and hope. In the face of appropriation by capitalist modernity, which seeks to drag our lives into an abyss of meaninglessness, we see it as our fundamental responsibility to strengthen the foundations of democratic modernity in all areas of life. Only in this way can peoples preserve and develop their cultural existence.
Throughout its history, art has always stood against destruction and denial, advancing together with all that is social into the present. Theater, in particular, has managed to carry its light through rituals from the mountains to the plains and, through its voices, from the streets to the stages, thus keeping alive the pursuit of a free and equal life to this day. As part of this tradition, we too will imbue our plays with the spirit of resistance and continue to ignite the fire of freedom. Until we have fully reclaimed what is ours, we will not leave our mountains, plains, streets, and stages empty.
In this spirit, we reaffirm our connection to the legacy of the pioneers of Kurdish theater: Evdirehîm Rehmî Hekarî, regarded as the first author of a Kurdish-language theatrical text; Hevî Şanoger, who was born on a March 27 and helped shape free and independent theater in the mountains of Kurdistan; and Yekta Herekol, who also carried forward and shaped this legacy on a March 27 with artistic consistency and critical vision. We also remember Bavê Teyar, who embodied the theater culture of the Rojava Revolution. We bow with love and respect before their memory.
In the light of Sophocles, Carlo Goldoni, Rehmî Hekarî, Dario Fo, Bertolt Brecht, Hêvî, Yekta, Bavê Teyar, and all those who have shaped and carried forward the art of theater, we warmly congratulate all theater practitioners and all audiences whose hearts beat for this art on March 27, World Theatre Day.”