UNESCO-listed Karagoz shadow theatre to be preserved through new laboratory in Türkiye

Nearly 700-year-old Karagoz shadow play will be preserved and promoted in an interactive laboratory created by a research center at Bursa Uludag University

Traditional Turkish shadow theatre, Karagoz, inscribed on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, will be preserved and transmitted to future generations through a newly established laboratory in Türkiye’s northwestern province of Bursa. The Karagoz Laboratory, established by a research center under Bursa Uludag University, is expected to open to visitors in January 2026. Visitors will be able to watch traditional Karagoz and Hacivat performances, explore the historical development of the shadow play through a rich collection, and take part in workshops on figure-making, puppetry and performance suitable for all age groups. “The Karagoz Laboratory will be a space where Karagoz is studied scientifically and brought together with the public,” said director Ibrahim Oztahtali, who leads the center’s academic work. "Children will not only watch the plays but also learn how to perform and create figures themselves,” he added. Master puppeteer Nevzat Ciftci said the laboratory aims to ensure that visitors actively engage with the art rather than only observe it. “Visitors will see the journey of Karagoz from Central Asia to Anatolia, compare it with shadow plays from China, Indonesia and India, and take part in hands-on workshops,” Ciftci said, adding the laboratory houses more than 100 figures and puppets. The project aims to raise new generations of Karagoz performers and puppetry enthusiasts while safeguarding a nearly 700-year-old tradition.