Ahmet Vefik Pasha Theatre

Ahmet Vefik Pasha Theatre was originally built in 1938 with the idea of a Community House. To date, it has hosted numerous theatre plays.

The community houses, as most people know, were closed at a time in 1952. That's why this place was used as a cinema for a while at that time. By 1957, Ihsan Sabri Çağlayangil, who was the governor of that time, made attempts to organize this place and turn it into a theatre. Two cinemas named Marmara and Tan are immediately evacuated and necessary arrangements are made. Idil Biret gives a grand piano concert at the opening of this place. Even the most important names in Turkish art history, such as Muammer Karaca and Haldun Dormen, also play small sections of some classic plays specifically for the opening.

According to a decision taken by the General Directorate of State Theatres in 1971, this place is transitioned to established order. With this period, Ahmet Vefik Pasha Theatre continues its journey in a much more active way. A serious effort is made to train new artists and new theatre actors. Special games are played in various villages and towns during the same periods. Schools are introduced to theatre. Applied theatre work enabled the discovery of many new talents in those years. Ahmet Vefik Pasha Theatre, located on Atatürk Street in Bursa, has a hall for about 500 people. On the other hand, there is another relatively small section called as Chamber Theatre. This place hosts events of both City theatergoers and private theatergoers.

Ahmet Vefik Pasha was a very important figure in the expansion of theatre and art in Bursa. His struggle on behalf of the theatre dates back to much older years than the foundation of this theatre. He translated and staged the works of many important names, especially Moliere, known throughout the world. In this sense, Bursa is very fond of the theater as a result of these efforts. Popularizing the theater is punished by the dismissal of Ahmet Vefik Pasha, who served as governor at the time, in 1882.