A Sustainable Venue in Beyoğlu

December 2025 - December 2026
İstanbul

2025–2026 marks Kumbaracı50’s 17th season. Due to unaffordable rents, escalating economic crises and social unrest, the organization’s venue in Beyoğlu is under threat. Beyoğlu is the first district where the right to travel is restricted as a result of social and political events. The only financial resources of the organisation which functions as an independent and free theatre, consist of ticket sales and training programmes.

The risk of no longer being sustainable arising from the drying up of revenue streams poses the biggest challenge for the coming season. Equal access to cultural spaces is essential to social equality and quality of life. Strengthening and sustaining the public function of the venue is of utmost importance. This support for the 2025–2026 season, will reduce the significant imbalance between income and expenditure caused by high rent, which accounts for a substantial portion of the fixed costs. Global and national changes, alongside environmental and economic crises, are increasingly giving rise to a harsh climate. To overcome these challenges, we have to protect our creative spaces, produce work that addresses the needs of society, and find ways to navigate this harsh climate through art.

The sustained existence of Kumbaracı50 is not about keeping a theatre alive in Beyoğlu, it also means ensuring that a space for the free expression and creativity of contemporary playwrights and directors can continue to exist.

Altıdan Sonra Tiyatro

The seeds of the stage Altıdan Sonra Tiyatro were sown between 1993 and 1999, a time in which the majority of its founding members were students at Istanbul Technical University. The group has maintained its structure since 1999 and is now one of the leading names in contemporary Turkish theatre. In November 2009, at its 10th anniversary the collective started an innovative performance and production space called Kumbaracı50 on the street with the same name in Beyoğlu. In a short amount of time Kumbaracı50 emerged as one of the leading venues where numerous local and international independent theatre groups and performance artists met with Istanbul’s audience. Designed as a flexible black-box theatre based on the concept that “everywhere is a stage”, the venue offers innovative performance options. This space was designed and built through the personal contributions of its members and the financial support of over 300 backers. Kumbaracı50 continues to operate as an independent venue in Beyoğlu in its 17th season.

Connections:

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This page is published on 23 March 2026.