RotArt in Kadıköy Life: When the Curtain Falls, Kindness Begins
The July–August 2026 issue of Kadıköy Life features an interview titled “When the Curtain Falls, Kindness Begins with RotArt”, sharing our journey on stage and the social impact it creates. Conducted by Serap Gürses with RotArt coordinator Hakan Ünsal, the interview appears on pages 48–49 of the magazine. A story that begins on stage and touches lives At the heart of the interview is Rotary’s principle of “Service Above Self”. It describes how RotArt, formed through the voluntary efforts of friends from different Rotary clubs, sees theatre and music not only as a stage experience but also as a way to make a positive difference together. The fellowship that begins in rehearsals reaches a wider community through the audience’s contributions on performance nights. The five performances of our musical theatre production Sakın Geç Kalma, Erken Gel during the 2025–2026 season are another key topic. The interview discusses how the production, prepared under the artistic direction of Özlem Abacı, helped direct approximately one million Turkish lira in donations towards social-impact projects. Kindness that grows together Support for children with disabilities, earthquake survivors, paediatric oncology services, and mother and baby health projects shows how the work on stage continues to matter after a performance ends. Alongside the allocation of proceeds to support projects, the interview highlights the friendships formed by the cast and the effect of volunteering on the ensemble. Hakan Ünsal discusses the group’s beginnings, the support of Rotary clubs and the sharing of responsibilities, emphasising how the project brings mutual rewards. The excitement of performing, the pleasure of creating together and the opportunity to contribute to another person’s life become parts of the same story. A journey from theatre to music The final section shares plans for new plays, different stage projects and the preparations of the RotArt Music ensemble. It looks ahead to the group’s ambition to reach more people and expand its social impact through both theatre and music. We thank Serap Gürses and the Kadıköy Life team for bringing this journey to their readers. You can enlarge the two magazine pages below or download the complete interview as a PDF. Download the complete Kadıköy Life interview as a PDF. Source: Kadıköy Life, July–August 2026, pages 48–49. Interview by Serap Gürses. The original magazine pages and PDF are in Turkish.
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