30. İSTANBUL THEATRE FESTIVAL – LAST RITES

AS PART OF THE 30TH ISTANBUL THEATRE FESTIVAL: LAST RITES AT PARIBU ART ON NOVEMBER 7–8

How do you say goodbye when words were never there?

A Deaf man who left his homeland years ago following conflicts with his father has just twenty-four hours to arrange his father’s funeral. Arjun’s father never learned the sign language that would have allowed him to communicate with his son, who was born Deaf. Returning to India, Arjun decides to create his own farewell ritual, confronting a complex father-son relationship shaped by a lack of communication and left unresolved by death.

Last Rites is a story of returning to childhood and one’s roots. It is also a search for an honest farewell and personal reconciliation in the face of traditional funeral rituals that fail to address grief left unspoken. A striking example of physical theatre, Last Rites combines storytelling with animated visuals. The production uses deep bass frequencies to transform sound into physical vibrations, creating a shared sensory experience between the stage and the audience.

Arjun is portrayed by Ramesh Meyyappan, who is himself a Deaf performer. Through sign language, mime, rhythm, and physical expression, Meyyappan creates a rich and nuanced theatrical language. He also brings to life Arjun’s primary school teacher, remembered through bittersweet childhood memories, his family members, and his father at different stages of life. Using only his body, he makes invisible objects and spaces tangible. Creative captions, integrated into the visual design, make the performance fully accessible to Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing audiences alike, offering an inclusive and equal theatrical experience.

Founded in the United Kingdom in 2007, the award-winning theatre company Ad Infinitum has gained international recognition for its inclusive and high-quality productions. This epic solo performance, exploring love, loss, communication barriers, and parenthood, has received widespread acclaim at some of the UK’s most prestigious theatres.

“The production’s striking visual design, creative captions, and dynamic projections not only enhance accessibility but also reinforce key moments in the narrative.”

— The Independent

“In the absence of a shared language… this wordless solo performance offers an equally accessible experience for Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing audiences.”

— A Youngish Perspective

The performance is non-verbal, with British Sign Language (BSL) used occasionally as a form of physical expression. Turkish translations of these sections will be provided through surtitles.