Armenian theater needs a permanent stage

The Anahit Var??-Hermon Var?? Theater Company, which has been maintaining traditional Armenian theater for 42 years with the support of private benefactors and an allowance from the Culture and Tourism Ministry, brings a new play to the stage every year, although it does not have a permanent home.

This year the company takes the stage on Tuesdays and Fridays at the Getronagan High School Graduates Association with the play "?a?k?n Baba," adapted from Louis de Funes' film. The play is produced by Anahit Var?? and directed by Kirkor Dinçkay?kç?.

Anahit Var??, who has been working for the theater after the death of his husband Hermon Var??, said the theater company has been active since 1972 and took its current name in 1997.

She said they produced a new play every year since their establishment, including "Hisseli Harikalar Kumpanyas?" (The Joint Venture Company of Wonders) at the Atatürk Culture Center in Istanbul with the contributions of veteran theater actor Haldun Dormen, as well as plays in Los Angeles and New York.

 "We change places all the time. For many years, we have staged plays in ?i?li municipality buildings, the Hadi Çaman's theater and the Dormen Theater. We want a permanent place but we can't [secure one]," she said, adding they staged comedy plays since people want to laugh.

Var?? said the company members' main professions were not acting. "Everyone has a job. They gather at night after 8 p.m. and do rehearsals. We are real amateurs. An ordinary theater company has a costume designer, décor designer, a lighting technician, etc. But we do all these things here by ourselves," she said. 

She said the Armenian community showed interest in their plays. "Our plays are in Turkish because our viewers...