SUBSIDIZED THEATERS AS THE CENTRAL SOCİAL OPPOSITION CENTERS IN TURKISH THEATER.

Faced with the challenges of modernization, Turkish society has experienced significant cultural changes since the late Ottoman Empire period. To achieve faster and smoother modernization, the government has embraced the creation and implementation of cultural policies. The principles of the conservative modernization program in the Ottoman Empire were based on gradually and partially adopting Western culture. While aiming to introduce unfamiliar ideas to society and create a transition between the Western world and society without causing significant harm to the cultural fabric, the state acted quite cautiously. Instead of directly copying and adopting Western norms, it aimed to introduce a new “modus vivendi” to the public by presenting a system that is reasonable to adopt in its own way against extreme examples that may provoke a reaction. Theater has become an important source of entertainment and cultural enrichment for Turkish people, reaching various parts of the country and attracting more viewers every day. After 1985, many theaters faced challenges in filling their seats, with performances often attended by only a few rows of spectators. This change resulted in a range of venues, from alternative spaces to traditional theaters. Alternative theaters, hosting smaller audiences of 30-50 people and often featuring amateur actors, have become platforms for recent graduates or current students of conservatories to showcase their talent. These "small theaters" resemble mini-schools with their semi-educational atmosphere. State and City (Municipality) Theaters follow a certain tradition, receiving funding to ensure high-quality performances in terms of actors, stage design, costumes, and music. Turkish-funded theaters, occasionally representing Turkish theater abroad, excel in style, acting, and bold performances compared to many subsidized theaters in other countries. They also put on plays which are highly political and it seems subsidized theaters will continue to be the most "political" theater groups in the country, alongside the declining number of political-social theater companies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]