As part of the webinar series organized by the Department of Acting at Arkın University of Creative Arts and Design (ARUCAD), theatre artist and curator Fatih Gençkal shared his artistic practice through his performance Smuggled Tea Time (Kaçak Çay Saati). The webinar was held in Turkish and moderated by Instructor Şafak Ersözlü from the Department of Acting.
During the webinar, Gençkal discussed the conceptual framework, production process, and dramaturgical structure of the performance, focusing on how a shared stage can become a space for encounter rather than representation. Smuggled Tea Time originated in 2020, when Gençkal met Mustafa Zeren, a Diyarbakır-based performer with an interest in contemporary dance, during the Diyarbakır leg of the Daire Artist-in-Residence Program. Their collaboration gradually evolved into a performative work, which was later presented in Istanbul, Izmir, and Diyarbakır.
At the core of the work lies the act of being together on stage, shaped by differing backgrounds, languages, and lived experiences. Rather than constructing fictional characters, the performance builds its tension through real presence and shared time. Reflecting on this process, Gençkal stated:
“While working with Mustafa in the same space, I often found myself reproducing the very power relations I thought I was questioning.”
Language and communication also emerged as key themes throughout the discussion. Gençkal emphasized that collaboration does not necessarily depend on mutual linguistic understanding, explaining: “Mustafa speaks Kurdish, I speak Turkish, and I don’t understand what he says. Yet we are still able to create a work together.” Addressing the role of text in the performance, Gençkal underlined that meaning is generated not through narration alone, but through coexistence on stage:
“The text does not stand on its own; it gains meaning through sharing the stage with Mustafa.”
Following its initial presentations in Turkey, Smuggled Tea Time was performed in Amsterdam, Berlin, and Brussels. In 2025, the work was further developed in Brussels with the support of Moussem and the Monty/Platform 0090 residency program. After its premiere at Kaaitheater Brussels, the performance was invited to festivals in Marseille, Istanbul, and Ankara, and continues its national and international journey.
The webinar concluded with an interactive discussion shaped by students’ questions and reflections. Those who wish to watch the webinar again can access the recording via the link below:
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx8C1UCjGWY"