Collapse on stage: The anatomy of addiction with Merve Dizdar

Emma was a starlet expected to shine on the stage. However, that first cigarette she puffed on to "look cooler" gradually led her to a lonely life in the corners of bars. While her intelligence and talent were poised to conquer the stage, her addiction to alcohol and drugs plunged her life and the lives of those around her into the abyss. Emma pulled not only herself but also those closest to her into darkness.

The play reveals not only the physical but also the psychological devastation of addiction. Emma's awakening every morning covered in bruises, the company of men she doesn't recognize, and her growing despair reveal the depths of her collapse.

Family relationships are among the most poignant aspects of the play. Emma's unconscious violence against her mother, the broken fingers of her mother, and the piano she hasn't been able to play for years, reveal the dark side of addiction in stark detail. Her father's words, "I wish you had died, not your sister," painfully reflect the fragility and despair within the family.

Emma's recovery is told through two attempts at rehabilitation. The first time she resists treatment and drops out, the second time she returns to her parents' home, where her addiction began, and embarks on a true transformation.

Directed by İbrahim Çiçek, the play features an unforgettable performance by Merve Dizdar, as well as prominent actors such as Nihal Koldaş, Selçuk Borak, Kerem Arslanoğlu, İsmet Bora Akın, and Ferhat Güneş.

People, Places, Objects powerfully emphasizes how addiction is not merely an individual illness; it also highlights how an intelligent and promising person can be dragged into darkness, destroying those they love. The play deeply evokes the courageous steps taken from darkness toward hope.