The phenomenon of theatre is an adventure which, if it has got permanency, starts, continues and survives with the writer's text. In fact, the only thing is the playtext that will survive and be interpreted on and on and will probably remain as long as the earth survives. No doubt, all elements like the actor, director, light up designer, decorator, audience and the like should work together so that the event of theatre may come out. Without them, a play text left there alone cannot turn into an event of theatre...
 | However, what is tried to be explained here is that an event of theatre can only be realized starting with a written text. This will not change the truth that any written text cannot be a successful and permanent play text. If it could, ten thousands of play texts that have been written since the world has been should still have survived. |
However, that is not the situation. The truth is that, since the first ages only a few of the hundreds of plays written by play-wrights who can be called real important, could have reached our time and they still survive. Then what we are telling about is those play texts which could on managed to survive ignoring pitylessnes of time and unavoidable terminating of the change.
Otherwise all texts which have the characteristics of being playable on stage is not a real theatre play.
Time is the best criticiser that values a play text as successful and permanent. We may still be mistaken although we have some other measurements in front of us. For example, what are the joint characteristics which we can call the foundation of those plays that managed to survive the date?
The first is that, permanent plays have strong stories. That is immediately seen with the plays which mamaged to survive on the line extending from the antic Greek to our time.
The second joint characteristics is that the story has an universal theme. That is, the story has to tell a word about all humanity.
The third joint characteristics is that the characters of the plays are true.
A strong story, a universal theme and characters taking part in this structure. These three characteristics is not enough for a play to be successful and permanent. A play text which does not have the characteristics of applicability cannot survive until tomorrow (her the word applicability is used as being applicable on stage).
A strong story, a universal theme, characters and applicability on stage... A text consisting of these four factors means a successful and permanent theatre play.
We may call play-wrights only such people who create play texts never ignoring the said factors.
In fact, a play-wright has to know his country people well, use his people's language, evaluate not only his people's but humanity's tragedia that cannot be given up, be sensitive to people's joint values, grief and expectations for their future and has to light their way increasingly.
A play-wright will of course make his text absorb his observations about daily life. This will make his play more living and vivid.
However, the text should be according to the scientific facts. This is an inevitable factor which as play-wrights we should carefully obey.
A play-wright will end up in break down that is unsuccessfulness if he does not follow the rules I tried to explain above.
Writing is a serious job. Being a writer, specifically a play-wright is a serious besides being a hard job. Because you are persons who have great dreams. And you have to erect all your world on a stage and make your dreams come true only on stage. And you have to follow many may be more rules I tried to explain above.
I, myself try to follow everything / all rules / all prerequisites that I already tried to explain above... At least I do my best to do so.
The reason why I may be successful is because I do try to follow these rules. At least I would like to remind you of the fact that a play-wright should wellcome critics. Because play-wrights have so many thing to learn especially from players, directors and of course from ordinary persons.
We should not forget that the great Turkish writer Aziz Nesin had his janitor read it first when he wrote a story. This is what is correct, as we are writing for people.
Then, come on, do it.
Tuncer Cucenoglu
Play-wright
Translated by Demet Feyman
