Disko No 5 puts the spotlight on Diyarbakır’s notorious jail

CULTURE / THEATRE

The Times newspaper lists Diyarbakır Military Prison No. 5 among the world’s ten most notorious jails. Located in southeast Turkey, it was built by the Ministry of Justice after the 12 September 1980 coup d'état, with the facility administered by the Turkish military. Prisoners, mainly of Kurdish origin, were regularly exposed to horrific and systematic acts of torture, with 34 prisoners losing their lives between 1981 and 1984.

Disko No 5 is based on real stories gleaned from memoirs, interviews and documentaries. Written by and starring Mîrza Metîn, this one man, one hour play puts the spotlight on this dark chapter in Turkish history where Diyarbakır No. 5 became a centre of torture par excellence. 

Metîn masterfully plays a spider, a mouse, a dog, a guard and a prisoner, contorting his body and changing his voice to reflect each one as they talk about the incredible cruelty they witness, pushing them and viewers to the limits of their intelligence and imagination.

Produced by İstanbul-based Destar Theatre, this striking play was first performed in Turkey in 2011. It has since toured Europe: Germany, France, Denmark, Sweden, and Switzerland, as well as in North Iraq winning several awards and commendations from Hurriyet, NTV and Tiyatro Tiyatro Magazine. It comes to Britain next weekend courtesy of Zet Productions. 

The play is performed in Kurdish with English and Turkish surtitles.

Event date: Saturday 15 March 2014 (London) and Sunday 16 March 2014 (Doncaster)

Venue address: Cypriot Community Centre Earlham Grove, London, N22 5HJ | Doncaster Little Theatre 1 King Street, Doncaster DN1 1JD

Tickets:  £21 (£12 concessions)

Shows: Saturday 19,30pm and Sunday 1pm

For tickets & info:  0741 355 9399