An all-female creative team will premiere Gelin at Canal Café Theatre in London from 31 January to 1 February 2026. The play reimagines İbrahim Şinasi’s 1859 comedy Şair Evlenmesi (The Wedding of a Poet), updating its critique of arranged marriage for a contemporary, multicultural setting.
Meaning “Bride” in Turkish, Gelin is a hilariously chaotic and honest new work that examines family expectations, generational clashes and the fragile bonds of female friendship. When her mother arranges a marriage she doesn’t want, Aylin sends her best friend in her place – only for the plan to backfire when the groom falls for the imposter.
London-based Turkish actor, director and producer Duru Agirbas co-produces and performs in the show, alongside an international cast and creative team from Turkey, the UK, Portugal, Brazil and China. The production blends Turkish and British theatrical traditions, drawing inspiration from contemporary female voices such as Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
Duru Agirbas says: “I want to build a stronger bridge between Turkish culture and life in Britain today. Watching Gelin should feel and sound like you’re in a real Turkish household with London on your doorstep. There is a huge diaspora community here in London, and drawing on this tapestry of cultures offers a viewpoint familiar to many but rarely seen on UK stages.”
The cast features Gunes Soysal as Aylin, Elif Gulalp as Yaz, Duru Agirbas as Sevim and Pedro Millan Duke as Emre. The creative team includes director Erica Rosa Lima and writer Estelle Warner.
Gelin runs at Canal Café Theatre on Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February 2026. Tickets start at £8.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
