Otuz Bir explores the lack of women’s rights, particularly in Turkey, and advocates for those affected by the ongoing effects of patriarchy and gender inequality. As a young Turkish woman, I was devastated by Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, and seeing other countries follow similar paths has reinforced the urgency of telling stories like this. The title Otuz Bir is intentionally ironic. In Turkish, it is slang for masturbation and is often used casually as a joke. However, beneath every joke lies a deeper truth. The humor reflects how certain harmful ideas and power imbalances can become normalized. I hope this show raises awareness about women’s experiences, especially those of Turkish women, while shedding light on the lasting presence of misogyny and patriarchy worldwide. I believe theatre is a powerful space to express difficult emotions, challenge perspectives, and bring attention to conversations that are often avoided. These values are at the core of my artistry, and I hope Otuz Bir reflects that purpose.

I would like to thank my friends at York, my roommate Amia, my cast, and my crew for their endless support and dedication. This play would not have come to life without your passion and love for the story. My lifeline in this project Alexia, I am so grateful we got to create this together and beyond proud of everything we got to accomplish together. 

En özel teşekkürlerimi sona bırakmak istedim. En başından beri beni destekleyen tüm arkadaşlarıma ve yanımda olmak için İskoca’ya kadar gelen aileme sonsuz teşekkür ederim. Desteğinizi bu süreç boyunca her zaman hissettirdiniz ve bunun için sizlere çok minnettarım. Özellikle annem, babam ve Yasemin’e teşekkür etmek istiyorum. Ne olursa olsun, bana her zaman güvendiniz; hayallerimden ve yeteneklerimden hiçbir zaman şüphe etmeme izin vermediniz. Sizin sevginiz ve desteğiniz olmadan bunların hiçbirini gerçekleştiremezdim. Sizlere sonsuz minnettarım ve sizleri çok seviyorum.

Love, Melisa