ERDAL BEŞİKÇİOĞLU: “LOVE ENDURES THROUGH EFFORT”
A Chilly Morning, written by Cordelia O’Neill and translated into Turkish by Zeynep Anacan, premiered at Tatbikat Sahnesi under the direction of Erdal Beşikçioğlu. Starring Elvin Beşikçioğlu and Fatih Sönmez, the play opens like a contemporary romantic comedy before unfolding into a layered story about loss, grief, and the resilience of love. Beşikçioğlu describes it as “a delicate piece that reminds us love still endures, and that it finds meaning through effort.”
Bringing together two sharply contrasting characters, Alex and Rupert, portrayed by Elvin Beşikçioğlu and Fatih Sönmez, the play begins with a light, romantic tone but quickly deepens into an emotionally charged narrative. Set beneath yellow stars painted with hope, the story follows two people trying to navigate the deafening weight of silence. It balances humor with a quiet confrontation, drawing the audience into both laughter and reflection.
TATBİKAT’S SIGNATURE APPROACH
Director Erdal Beşikçioğlu emphasizes that every production at Tatbikat Sahnesi is shaped through the company’s own artistic lens. “Each style, each form is interpreted in a way that is unique to Tatbikat before it reaches the audience. It can be a romantic comedy, drama, or even epic. What matters is how we reinterpret these forms within our own artistic language.”
“A GUIDING PRESENCE RATHER THAN A BURDEN”
Reflecting on the rehearsal process, Beşikçioğlu highlights the ease of working with experienced actors. “When you work with strong actors, your burden becomes much lighter. You share your vision, they study it, and bring it back to you. Then you refine it together. After years, working again with actors who know me made the process both smooth and enjoyable. They carried the real weight of the work; I was more of a guiding presence.”
A STORY OF MODERN RELATIONSHIPS
At its core, the play explores a relationship shaped by love and effort. Beşikçioğlu notes that the story reflects the dynamics of contemporary relationships: “It shows two people who recognize each other’s flaws and build their relationship around them. Even when faced with something difficult, they don’t walk away; they choose to stay and fight for it. In a time when we tend to lose interest quickly and consume everything just as fast, this story insists on something else: that love still lasts, and that it requires effort. It’s a very gentle, yet powerful narrative.”
HOLDING ON IN HARD TIMES
Elvin Beşikçioğlu underlines that the play’s emotional core lies in the ability to hold on to one another during difficult moments. “The writer explains the idea behind the play as this: when everything is going well, there is no real test, but the question is whether people can still hold on to each other when things fall apart. In the story, after a difficult event, the characters rediscover themselves through each other. It begins from a harsh place, but they still find their way back to one another.”
THE PULL OF OPPOSITES
Fatih Sönmez points to the dynamic between two contrasting personalities as the driving force of the play. “It’s about the attraction between two different worlds. One is highly organized, the other completely scattered. Everything seems fine at first, then something unexpected happens. From that moment on, we watch their effort to stay connected despite it all.”
Sönmez also describes the rehearsal period as deeply collaborative and enjoyable. “You can’t do this work without enjoying it. Being with this team felt like working within a family; it was a comfortable and supportive environment.”
The production features set and lighting design by Cem Yılmazer, costume design by Eylül Gürcan, and assistant direction by Aslı Tüter and Haydar Özkan.
