The independent theater group Hangardz’s new play, “52 Hertz,” is preparing to meet the audience. Four women, who experienced their childhoods, losses, and loves for the first time on an island near Istanbul, decide to bid farewell to the island with a play upon learning that the island will be destroyed in a few hours. This final play will take them to timeless spaces in their memories. As the island approaches extinction, the characters begin to question their methods of coping with life, their relationships with one another, the places they belong, and the contradictions between being visible and remaining invisible. Whether this questioning can stop the island's destruction forms the main tension of the play.
Named after the whale known as the “world’s loneliest whale” because it emits sounds at a frequency of 52 hertz and is therefore thought not to be heard by other whales, the play traces a history where being heard is not always possible.
The play is set on Kınalıada
Based on the autobiographical stories of the female actors of the Hangardz team—who keep the Armenian culture and art tradition in Istanbul alive on stage—“52 Hertz” was produced in a collective process using the devised theater technique. The play brings a common language built on memory, invisibility, and solidarity to the stage. Set on Kınalıada, the production tells the story of four women's efforts to create a play that they could not stage despite their hard work, against all difficulties.
The cast of the play includes Diana Chilingaryan, Garine Maral Çizmeciyan, Lara Narin, and Tara Demircioğlu. Directed by Zinnure Türe, the production features costume design by Hilal Polat, lighting design by Utku Kara, and visual design by Anet Sandra Açıkgöz.
The premiere of the play will take place on April 2 at DasDas Open Stage. It will meet the audience on April 3 at Habitat Stage and on April 14 at Claphall Stage. On April 22, conversations and a discussion will be organized around "52 Hertz."
