Türkiye Launches Karagoz Laboratory to Preserve Traditional Shadow Theatre
Bursa, The Gulf Observer: Traditional Turkish shadow theatre, Karagoz, inscribed on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is set to be preserved and transmitted to future generations through a newly established laboratory in Türkiye’s northwestern province of Bursa.
The Karagoz Laboratory, established by a research center under Bursa Uludağ University, is scheduled to open to visitors in January 2026. The laboratory will offer audiences the opportunity to watch traditional Karagoz and Hacivat performances, explore the historical development of the shadow play through an extensive collection, and participate in workshops on figure-making, puppetry, and performance suitable for all ages.
“The Karagoz Laboratory will be a space where Karagoz is studied scientifically and brought together with the public,” said Ibrahim Öztahtalı, director of the center overseeing the academic work. “Children will not only watch the plays but also learn how to perform and create figures themselves,” he added.
Master puppeteer Nevzat Çiftçi emphasized that the laboratory aims to engage visitors actively with the art form rather than having them solely observe. “Visitors will see the journey of Karagoz from Central Asia to Anatolia, compare it with shadow plays from China, Indonesia, and India, and take part in hands-on workshops,” he said. The laboratory currently houses more than 100 figures and puppets.
The initiative seeks to cultivate a new generation of Karagoz performers and puppetry enthusiasts while safeguarding a nearly 700-year-old cultural tradition, ensuring that this unique aspect of Türkiye’s heritage continues to thrive.
