Longing for a Lost Past

Abstract

Kula 930 is a play written, produced, directed, and performed exclusively by members of the Istanbul Jewish community. It was first staged in 1978 and is considered to be the first play in Türkiye since 1947 that was predominantly performed in Ladino (Judeo-Spanish). This study examines the reasons behind the success of the play, from its first rendition in 1978 to its fourth rendition in 2017. The paper analyses the circumstances and the meaning of the play’s language and its characteristics while highlighting the evolution of the play within the socio-historical context of Jews in Türkiye.