ALLATINI Play Stages Abdülhamid II’s Exile in Istanbul
The play premiered Oct. 9 in Üsküdar, with a gala night planned later in October.
A new Istanbul play, “The Final Act of the Sultanate: ALLATINI,” turns to the exile of Sultan Abdülhamid II. It premiered on Oct. 9, 2026, at the Çamlıca 1071 Congress and Cultural Center in Üsküdar, according to Daily Sabah. A gala night is planned for later this month.
The two-act work was written by Mustafa Akif Ekşi and directed by Emrah Yardımcı. It follows the former ruler’s time in Thessaloniki and at the Allatini Mansion, where the story centres on loneliness, family ties and the hardships of exile.
What the ALLATINI play presents on stage
The production shows Abdülhamid II as more than a political figure. Daily Sabah describes him as a father and a man facing his past and personal struggles. The story is set within the mansion’s walls and weaves together memory, loyalty, separation and worry for the homeland.
The play also follows people who grew up under his rule but later joined rival factions. Through these relationships, it explores how loyalties shift and how past decisions give way to regret. These are the play’s dramatic themes, not a record of documented events.
Cast of the Abdülhamid II stage drama
Yücel Gökçek plays Sultan Abdülhamid II. Levent Akkök appears as Fethi Bey, Beyza Şahin as Ayşe Sultan and Dilara Tabak as Hatice Sultan. Ezgi Irem Mutlu plays Mehlika, Ertunç Alıcı a staff officer, Alper Banko Musahip Efendi and Belma Mamati Raşel Hanım.
A musahip was traditionally a companion or confidant of a ruler. The source does not explain how the play uses the character, so viewers should treat each role as a stage portrayal.
Historical context for the sultan’s final years
Abdülhamid II was removed from the throne in 1909 and sent to Thessaloniki, where he lived at the Allatini Mansion. Historians widely record this exile. Their accounts of his motives and his private life in those years vary, and a play can only offer one interpretation.
For viewers who know the television drama Payitaht: Abdülhamid, the stage production offers a different angle. It concentrates on the closed world of exile rather than the palace politics of his reign. Fans can also watch Payitaht: Abdülhamid episodes to compare how each format treats the same ruler.
The organisers have not yet announced the exact date and programme of the gala night. They will publish updates, stage footage and cast introductions on the production’s social media account.
Source: Daily Sabah
Featured image: Daily Sabah
