Nazım Hikmet in London

The work of Turkish poet Nazım Hikmet were read to guests gathered at an event organised by the Most Art theatre group.

A modest audience joined in the readings

Held in Stoke Newington by Most Art director Emine Tatlıses and actress Gülseren Taş, the evening was an opportunity for the poet’s works to be heard once again.

“For a long time Turkey and the world has been going through a bad period,” Ms Tatlıses said. “That is why we wanted to re-read Nazım’s poems. Despite all the injustices done to him Nazım never lost his hope.

“We wanted this to be not a stage production but to incorporate our guests into an atmosphere of hope, in a natural setting like a home or among friends.”

Gülseren Taş and Emine Tatlıses

The guests themselves were asked to participate in the readings, which were accompanied by Kamil Küpeli on his “mey” flute-style instrument.

Nazım Hikmet was repeatedly arrested for his political beliefs and spent much of his adult life in prison . He died in Moscow at the age of 61 in 1963, having been exiled from his homeland.