Deniz Basar (Boğaziçi University)
This is an unofficial history of Little Amal in Turkey: a large-scale collaboration project between the Good Chance Theatre from UK and Handspring Puppet Company from South Africa. I followed the team closely in the journey that took place between July 23-August 8, 2021. Little Amal is a three-and-a-half meter tall puppet that symbolizes a Syrian girl, who is left alone in a dangerous journey that starts from Turkey. This essay discusses the puppet’s intervention to the political debates around refugees in Turkey during its live performances, and analyzes the potential reception dynamics of the work.
Part of V4-03 Race, Gender and Animacy in Object Performance, Thursday, October 12, 8:00 am–10:00 am