Schechner's 6 Axioms for Environmental Theater, published in The Drama Review in 1968,
basically states the principles of the theatre genre in which the entire space that the
performers and the audience are present is the space of the show. Today, examples of
environmental theatre have been staged in Istanbul too. This paper delves into the use of
space in performance, using Schechner's 6 Axioms for Environmental Theater as a
reference. The paper focuses on three plays, namely Freak, The Teapot Left a White Trace
on the Rosewood Table Inherited from My Mother, and Büyük Zarifi Apartment, which were
all staged in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, Turkey. These plays were performed in spaces
that were not originally intended as theatres but were re-functionalized and transformed into
performance spaces, showcasing environmental theatre features.
The purpose of this paper is to explore how areas beyond traditional theatre venues have
been converted into performance spaces and to investigate how historical spaces have been
transformed into performance spaces. This research will determine if plays that use
environmental theatre, with different areas used throughout the space, comply with
Schechner's principles. If the plays do not conform to Schechner's principles, the research
will identify new principles that should be developed.
All three plays take place in three historical locations in Beyoğlu. The play venues are Zarifi
Apartment, an old Greek apartment building; Metrohan, the world's second oldest metro
tunnel on the ground floor; and Hope Alkazar, the old cinema on Istiklal Street.
This paper uses a research method based on observation and experience of the plays. It
aims to determine principles on the impact and transformation of space on performance.