This play contains themes of sexual assault, political themes, and finding yourself after trauma.
“Otuz bir” literally meaning 31 is a slang word used when talking about masturbation in Turkiye. Otuz Bir is about a turkish woman called Deniz. Deniz has been with her boyfriend Emir for four years. He believes that they have a good time under the sheets. However, that has never been the case. Deniz does not know what she likes because she has never touched herself before.
The play takes place during the time where Turkiye withdrew from the Istanbul Convention. The Istanbul Convention is a human rights treaty. This treaty was signed to keep women and girls safe from violence and domestic abuse. However, Turkiye withdrew from the treaty in 2021. Deniz and her boyfriend Emir discover this horrible news. Deniz understands the consequences of this, but Emir not so much. Throughout the play he disregards Deniz’s concerns about her rights as a woman and as a human being. While Emir is gaslighting Deniz the other characters Beyin (brain), Vajina (vagina), Clit, and Vulva are having their own discussions about Emir and how he treats Deniz. Beyin always give him the benefit of the doubt unlike Vajina who sees right through him.
There is a scene that is choreographed where they portray Deniz getting sexually assaulted. Beyin cannot control what is happening and Vajina, Clit, and Vulva are begging Beyin to make it stop. Definetly a hard watch you feel the helplessness of the body.
The show finishes with Emir getting the boot and Deniz getting to know herself and meeting her new best friends. Vajina, Clit, and Vulva.
This show is incredibly important to watch. It highlights the struggles of Turkish women in a patriarchal society. There is not much of a focus on Turkish women and their struggles in the media and if there is any focus it is always focused on the wrong things. The writer Melisa Altug has done an amazing job at highlighting the strength that Turkish women have to show daily. Super proud of her and all the cast that had such important parts to play. Definitely a must see show during the fringe. P.S you may get wet.
For ticket information and social media click here:
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/otuz-bir
https://www.instagram.com/otuzbir_theplay
Featured Image Credit: Edinburgh Fringe
I am a 1st year journalism and politics student who is just starting out
