Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Faculty of Tourism and Community Involvement Center co-organized a violence against women themed theatre play with the contributions of EMU Theatre Community and EMU Music Club. The short play “Uyanış: Yaşayan Ölüler” (Awakening: Living Dead) featuring students from the EMU Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts as performers, was staged at the EMU Activity Center Theater Hall. The play garnered attention as a significant social responsibility project designed to raise societal awareness.
Vice Dean of EMU Faculty of Tourism Assist. Prof. Dr. İlkay Yorganci Maloney, EMU Information Management and Services Unit Chief Cemal Kılıç, Community Involvement Center’s Chair Assist. Prof. Dr. Nazenin Ruso Kandemir, EMU academic staff members and personnel, ultrAslan Uni-Eastern Mediterranean Club and EMU students watched the performance.
Impressive Musical Performance Delivered
The play was written by Büşra Köseoğlu Tatlı, with project coordination led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Nazenin Ruso Kandemir, Chair of Community Involvement Center. In this musical, Berfin Sevimli, a student from the EMU Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, delivered powerful renditions of emotionally charged songs like “Sarı Gelin” and “Ünzile”.
Social Issues Taken to Stage
The play powerfully addressed critical social issues such as femicide, violence against women, child brides, and infidelity. Drawing attention to the over 400 femicides in Türkiye and Northern Cyprus this year, the final scene featured the actors holding banners protesting violence against women. Moreover, a slideshow displayed the names and photographs of women who had been murdered, aiming to raise awareness.
At the end of the well-received performance, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Tourism Assist. Prof. Dr. İlkay Yorgancı Maloney, took the stage to express gratitude to the actors and all those involved in the project, presenting certificates to the contributors.