Karagöz (Karagöz & Hacivat) is a traditional Turkish puppetry form that originated during the Ottoman Empire. It is a type of shadow play that involves the use of flat, jointed puppets made of leather or card, which are manipulated behind a lit screen to create shadows that represent characters on the stage.
There are different perspectives on the origin of this play. While some scholars believe that it started from Turkiye itself, others believe it was brought to Turkiye after Sultan Selim’s conquest of Egypt.
Karagöz was shown -mostly at night time- in the popular cafés, especially during the month of Ramadan, sometimes in the open air. And in private homes for the celebration of a circumcision or any other festivals.
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| The artist will move the characters using the sticks according to their dialogues |
It is a sort of shadow play where characters on the stage are represented by shadows cast by flat, jointed puppets made of leather or card that are moved in front of an illuminated screen. The play will be presented on the white curtain. There will be a light behind it to make it clear.
The main characters of the play are Karagoz and Hacivat. Karagoz represents the ordinary man in the street; he is almost illiterate. His friend Hacivat instead is the opposite of him; he is educated and uses poetical and literary language.
The conversation between these two characters will be done by an artist behind the veil. He will move the characters according to their conversations.
The play was most popular in the month of Ramadan.
A model of Karagöz play from ''Payitaht: Abdülhamid':
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