Deniz Göktaş show took the stage at Harbiye

Deniz Göktaş's show at Harbiye stood out with its historical references and political humor. The night when the hall was completely full also attracted attention with its stage setup...

Scraper SystemJune 05, 2026, 10:57 AM

On stage, there was something huge, covered, resembling a phantom, and clips that heralded a good show had been prepared; it was a beautiful May evening, flowers had bloomed, the wind carried the scent of flowers. Harbiye's 5,000 seats were packed to capacity, everyone was waiting for Deniz Göktaş, one of the brightest comedians of recent times. I had watched Deniz Göktaş for the first time at DasDas, to be honest, I had no expectations but it was a magnificent show and I left the hall enchanted by that spell. This time, my expectations were high. Moreover, we managed to get Deniz Göktaş's ticket from one of those seats he mocked, row H, seat 16 or so, at the back, a place "better seen than from a podcast." Bilgehan Uçak wrote: I will always have time to dedicate to Deniz Göktaş. When Deniz Göktaş took the stage and the cover was pulled off, the phantom was revealed. Deniz Göktaş's head was tilted to the side. Of course, having only a head on stage without a body reminded me of the "Reign of Terror" following the French Revolution. As you know, the guillotine worked nonstop for several years, separating thousands of heads from their bodies just like we saw on this stage. The last words spoken by those taken to execution are of such quality and quantity that they could fill a solid book of aphorisms. For example, Madam Roland's "Oh liberty! What crimes are committed in your name!" is one of them, but I think the most famous is Danton's words, not to the watching crowd but to his executioner: "Don't forget to show my head to the crowd, it deserves it!" Well, after all this fuss, just about ten years later Napoleon came and re-established the empire, anyway... I can also tell you about the days leading to 1789 like this. There is a palace where the entire aristocracy of the country is imprisoned; while they stay in the palace, they move from debauchery to drunkenness, meanwhile the people are starving, there is drought, and the power of the broad masses called the "third estate" means nothing against a handful of privileged minorities. Who are these minorities? Aristocrats, that is, the military and clergy. The only power of the third estate is to refuse acceptance, to speak, to support each other, to increase solidarity. Is there no power in talking in coffeehouses? Of course there is, sometimes the fire spreading from those coffeehouses engulfs the whole country. Of course, events do not necessarily unfold positively; Hitler's rise also started by talking in beer halls. I am sure Deniz Göktaş also believes in the power of speech. What can we do? Talk. So let's talk. But talking, of course, here I mean like Deniz Göktaş does, a speech that captivates people, adorned with flashes of intelligence, extremely entertaining and striking, requires accepting to pay serious prices in advance. It has always been like this throughout history. Deniz Göktaş touches on these topics at various points in the play, after conveying his lawyers' opinions about the play to the audience, he explains how easy it is to reach "cheap heroism," but he handles all these topics so cleverly that while laughing as if falling off your seat, you momentarily get the illusion that you live in the world's most advanced country in freedom of expression. I really liked Deniz Göktaş's first play, I watched it several times on YouTube with the same pleasure, and I loved this play too. Yes, the play is very funny but Deniz Göktaş is not just funny, there are thousands of funny people, of course there are funnier ones, but I have not seen anyone with political awareness and humor talent soaring at such heights for a long time. "Don't touch the idols," says Flaubert in Madame Bovary, "the gilding will remain in your hand afterwards." While Deniz Göktaş leaves no idol untouched in his one-hour show, he does not break or destroy them, he succeeds in creating a whole different from them with extraordinary humor talent. And he comes down from the stage not only with his hands but also adorned with gilding on his clothes. Support Medyascope. Subscribe to Medyascope. Medyascope stands thanks to your support. We are not under the influence of any boss or political interest; we decide which news to cover. We work for the public good, not for clicks. The continuation of independent journalism, the site staying open, and everyone accessing accurate information is possible with your support. Subscribe monthly/yearly Give one-time support Bilgehan Uçak / Other articles Bilgehan Uçak wrote: Aziz Yıldırım's election campaign May 31, 2026.

Deniz Göktaş show took the stage at Harbiye

Deniz Göktaş's show at Harbiye stood out with its historical references and political humor. The night when the hall was completely full also attracted attention with its stage setup...