Lara Mutlu successfully reflects the emotional depth of the play “Bu Da Geçer Ya Hu” in the role of a journalist at the Perde Sanat Tiyatrosu, while also making a name for herself in the energetic dance scenes of Anadolu Ateşi. Balancing these two different aspects of art with skill, Lara is embarked on a passionate artistic journey. We had a delightful conversation with her about her career, perspective on art, and future projects.
–Who is Lara Mutlu, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Lara. I am in the 10th grade at TED Ankara College. I have grown up on stages since I can remember. Dance has been the biggest part of my life since I was 3 years old. Currently, I am dancing at Anadolu Ateşi. I am also a member of the Folk Dance team at my school. I took acting classes at Sadri Alışık Cultural Center for a year. In the play “Bu Da Geçer Ya Hu” where our paths crossed with Perde Sanat Theater, I portray the role of a journalist. I want to study theater as a profession.
–Could you describe the preparation process for portraying the journalist character in the theater play? How do you connect with your character? Could you tell us a bit about “Bu Da Geçer Ya Hu” and the character you play in the play?
Many of my acquaintances who watched the play said that the role suited me very well, and I have even heard many people say “it’s a role made for you.” However, it was not easy to bring it to this point. In fact, I didn’t think it was a role suitable for my own character at first. The play revolves around the national struggle during the occupation, and I play the role of an excited journalist conveying news to the public of that era. In the beginning, I was quite shy while playing the role, given the excitement of being in such a play for the first time. Over time, the whole team became like a family to me, I learned a lot from all of them, and I continue to learn. The comments they made to me during rehearsals were very important to me from the moment I got the role. I tried to shape the role by listening to these comments as much as I could. It seems to me that something beautiful came out in the end, and I really enjoy playing it.
–How do you strike the balance between theater and dance? It must have been a challenging experience to play the role of a journalist in Perde Sanat Theatre’s play “Bu Da Geçer Ya Hu” and at the same time dance in Fire of Anatolia.
This has indeed been the most challenging aspect of this process for me. Both are professional work, both contribute a lot to me both career-wise and socially. This year marks the 12th year of my dance life, and the 7th year at Anadolu Ateşi. Dancing allows me to find and discover myself. Theater, on the other hand, has been a very different experience for me. While I have been on stage dancing since I was a child, now trying to portray a character has begun to give me very different skills, especially socially. Of course, a certain character needs to be portrayed in dance as well, but I realized that in theater, one’s character is claimed in a very different way. Sometimes rehearsals for the play clash with dance rehearsals, and play performances clash with dance shows naturally. Having to choose between the two psychologically tires me, and consecutive rehearsals and performances tire me physically. But at the end of the day, I am doing the things I love and enjoy. Once I know that, the tiredness doesn’t matter at all to me.
–Could you share some memorable moments backstage?
Backstage is a very fun place where we spend time. We are now so adapted to the play that jokes, lines, and topics about the funny moments on stage constantly revolve around us. The color of work changes from stage to stage, of course. Each time, playing on a different stage leads to different memories. I find myself having a lot of fun both backstage and on stage with the changes of scenes, entrances, exits, and changes in decor.
–Where does your passion for performing arts come from? How did you get acquainted with both theater and dance?
I was a sensitive baby to music and songs even when I was in my mother’s womb. When I was little, I gave countless concerts and dance shows to my parents at home. I developed the ability to imitate what I watched on my own. After watching a concert video of Shakira for hours, I could replicate it exactly. So, as you can understand, I never spent a second in my life without dance, movement, and song. This was the beginning of my passion for the stage and dance. My interest in theater began when I thought that acting on stage and expressing oneself verbally could also be fun. Theater has been a part of my life for the last 2 years. Hopefully, I will have the chance to study it as a profession in the future.
–Could you provide some information about your future projects? What lies ahead for you?
Honestly, I have no idea. Everything happens very spontaneously. Some opportunities come up in life, and it’s up to me to make the most of these opportunities. The play “Bu Da Geçer Ya Hu” was a huge opportunity for me. I am very, very happy to have had the chance to take advantage of this opportunity. My dream is to finish a theater program in the future and participate in various projects and plays.
–Finally, what would you like to say to theater enthusiasts?
I believe that being an audience member is just as important as acting in the theater. Because we, as artists, ultimately appear before the audience, and our goal is to involve them in the story or event we are telling, to entertain them. Therefore, I think loving and watching theater is much more than just acting. It gives different perspectives. It teaches different stories. People who love theater and performing arts, in my opinion, are always one step ahead in life. Art opens completely different doors for people, makes them think about completely different subjects. It makes them laugh uproariously when necessary, and it moves them to tears when necessary. It liberates people. It enables them to be themselves.
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