Religion factor for turning from traditional to contemporary Turkish theatre

ABSTRACT The formation of Turkish Theatre in Western means develops with the secular social structure. Before this phase, there exists "traditional and amusing" types, religious plays, rites. And this indicates that becoming independent of religion of the public and improvement of theatre are parallel with each other. Middle Asian Turks have been influenced by various religions from Animism to Buddhism. Shamanism as a belief technique, cannot produce a drama art in spite of the performances of Shaman-actor. These motives survived in amusing tradition when Turks migrated to Anatolia. İslam is against portraying and animating. "Meddah, Karagöz and Orta Oyunu" (types of traditional Turkish theatral performances) are allowed to be performed under control. "Sema, sama or taziye" (religious plays) are traditions which develop with the impact of İslam. None of them constitutes today's theatre. This study researches the religion-society-theatre relation; impact of religion in improvement of Turkish Theatre; and emphasises the requirement for a secular social structure in order form a theatre as we understood today. VI