Biography
Didem (they/them and this is how their name sound theythem) was born in a city by the Black Sea in Turkey. They grew up in this city while the cornfields were rising into buildings. Many scars still remain from the injuries borne within those constructions. They have a village in the middle of Anatolia where they hold numerous memories from childhood and teenage years, such as molding small objects from mud and rolling down hills inside tractor tires. At the age of 18, they moved to Istanbul to study Computer Engineering. Their first arrival at Haydarpaşa station was the beginning of an adventure, one where people often wonder whether Istanbul is bigger than them. A joke that any resident of Istanbul would tell.
encounters
Didem’s path eventually led them to theatre and performance. After engaging in university theatre clubs, community work, activism, and children’s theatre, she earned a certificate in Pantomime from Istanbul University State Conservatory in 2010. She later co-founded the mime company Mimhane.
After a year in post-production in color depertmant, they returned to their studies with a full scholarship at Istanbul Bilgi University, earning a degree in Performing Arts in 2016. During this time, they collaborated with companies like Kadro Pa, known for contemporary adaptations, and KaST, focused on physical theatre and site-specific performances. In 2017, they joined the international ensemble Teatr Andra.
scholarly
Didem earned their bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts with Encounters, a senior project exploring human interactions through multimedia. On a tight budget, they struggled to find a suitable camera to track performers’ movements and project them as colorful lines. Throughout their studies, they embraced experimentation, failure, and growth, showcasing their work at symposiums and festivals.
After graduation, they developed a project for their master’s application, but it didn’t secure their place. However, it evolved into their solo work, Now You Run Out of Shelter, a deep exploration of isolation and despair. In 2020, after a second attempt, they completed her MA in Dance at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. Echoing Beckett’s philosophy, those years were about failing, trying again, and eventually getting it right. At the end of 2024, following their defense exam, they completed their doctoral research, titled “Devising Affects”, at Yıldız Technical University.
currently
Didem is on a quest for humor that bridges diverse disciplines, including storytelling, puppetry, movement, singing, music, documentary, theatre, and performance. No matter what @didemdevises, they always seeks a kind of joy that makes our shared experiences worth remembering (anything joyful). But they are also a joykiller, as they believe that some of us ought to be in a world and time that is so distorted.
Meanwhile, they navigate the intersections of theory and practice within the contemporary theatre and performance scene. Their work centers on besidedness, in-betweenness, and many other topographical concepts as a mixture of different artistic, social, cultural and academic elements. Yet, within this blend, chaos might just find its place, which is always welcome in their journey. They stand beside others, while they also always remain in between.
curriculum vitae
Education
Yıldız Technical University, Ph.D., Music and Performing Arts
Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts, MA Contemporary Dance
Istanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi, BA Performing Arts
Istanbul University State Conservatory, Pantomime
Artistic Experience
Stage Experience
2023
Out Loud performance including multimedia puppetry (concept, deviser)
with divercCITYLAB and Theater am Werk
2022
So I Mix Things solo performance (concept, deviser)
premiered at Kultursommer Wien
2022
Escape Patriarchy immersive theatre performance (performer)
performed at Zukunftshof (Vienna)
Director: Anna de Carlo
Production: diverCITYLAB
2020
Dialogue solo video performance, artistic research,
MA Contemporary Dance "The Compositional Dialogue Between the Self and the Other"
2019
Golden Apple puppet theatre by Olası İşler, as Puppeteer (full body puppet)
performed at Kadıköy Theatron, KOMA (Istanbul)
Director: Hilal Polat
2019
Parrhesia contemporary physical theatre play by KaST, as Performer
performed at Kadıköy Theatron (Istanbul), Sahne Terminal (Izmir)
Director: Salih Usta
2019
Salto contemporary physical theatre play by Teatr Andra, as Performer
performed at Üsküdar Tekel Stage (22nd IKSV Istanbul Theatre Festival), KHas, Beşiktaş Sahne (Istanbul), Nilufer Theatre Festival (Bursa)
Director: Alexandra Kazazou
2018
Aslında Bu Kadar site-specific performance by Ilgın Abeln, as Performer
performed at Sakıp Sabancı Museum (Istanbul)
Director: Ilgın Abeln
2018
The Things I Am Not Sure That I Am Thinking puppet short play, as Performer (full body puppet)
performed at Bomontiada (Istanbul), Dschungel Wien (50 Jahre Nach 1968 by diverCITYLAB, Vienna)
Director: Hilal Polat
2018
Şimdilik Her Şey Yolunda concert-performance with Çağıl Kaya, Salih Usta, Ercüment Okur, Tamer Temel, as creative performer
performed at Bomontiada (17th !f Istanbul Bağımsız Film Festival, Istanbul)
2017
Free Fall contemporary physical theatre play by KaST, as Performer
Director: Salih Usta
2017
Rausch contemporary theatre play by Gnelev, as Performer
performed at Garaj Istanbul, NoAct, CKM (Istanbul)
Director: Turgay Doğan
2017
Now You Run Out of Shelters contemporary physical theatre play by KaST, as Performer
performed at Kadıköy Theatron, Istanbul Impro (Istanbul), Atölye açıKapı, ESA Stage (Izmır),
20th International Sabancı Adana Theatre Festival (Adana)
Director: Salih Usta
2016
Encounters senior project at Istanbul Bilgi University, as Choreographer, Performer
performed at KKM Gönül Ülkü and Gazanfer Özcan Stage (Istanbul)
Concept/Design/Choreography: Didem Kırış
2015
Pink nonverbal physical theatre play by KaST, as Performer
performed at Istanbul Impro, Stage Pulcherie (Istanbul)
Director: Salih Usta
2015
That Place is Mine nonverbal physical theatre play by Destar Theatre, as Musician, Performer
performed at 8. KargArt Performans Günleri (Istanbul)
Director: Mirza Metin
2013
Circus d’Arc contemporary physical theatre play by Kadro PA, as performer
performed at Theatre Madrasa (Izmir/Premiere),
KHas Stage (AltFest Alternative Theatre Festival, Istanbul) ODTÜ Theatre Festival(Ankara),
Uludağ University Theatre Festival (Bursa)
Concept/Design: Kadro PA
2011
Chest mime play by MimHane, as mime
performed at NHKM (Istanbul)
Concept/Design: MimHane
2011
Military Boots solo mime
Concept/Design/Mime: Didem Kırış
Other Works
2021
The Rehearsal Room online rehearsals for the future
as Performer
2019
Kafada Deli Sorular official music video of Bir Şeyler Eksik
as Performer
Directors: Ramin Matin, Tayman Tekin
2016
Ne Zaman Ölsem official music video of Çağıl Kaya
as Performer, Choreography
Director: Barış Hancıoğulları
2016
Runway contemporary physical theatre play by KaST
as Assistant Director, Dramaturg
performed at Istanbulimpro (Istanbul), Atölye açıKapı (Izmir)
Director: Salih Usta
2016
Troas contemporary theatre play by Teatr Andra
as Technical Operator
performed at several stages and festivals in Istanbul, Ankara, Bursa, Wroclaw, Thessaloniki
Director: Alexandra Kazazou
2015
Us performance with sound wires
Concept/Text/Performance: Didem Kırış
performed at SantralIstanbul (Project 01, Istanbul)
2014
Fernweh community performance, video interview
Created for PA 421 Performance in Social Context class in İstanbul Bilgi University Performing Arts (BA) 2014 Exhibited in the Performart 14' Performative Arts Conference program as is called "Challenges and Actions - Projects of “Performance in Social Context” – İstanbul Bilgi University Management of Performing Arts and Performing Arts BA Students Performances"
