Özlem Daltaban
ÖZLEM DALTABAN
International Theatre Producer · Co-Founder of DOT Theatre · Edinburgh
Özlem Daltaban is an international theatre producer whose work began in Istanbul and later expanded to the UK, with projects based in Edinburgh and London.
She is the co-founder and producer of DOT Theatre Istanbul, founded in 2005, and the founder of DOT Arts and Theatre Company, established in Edinburgh in 2018. For over two decades, she has been developing and producing contemporary theatre projects that combine strong artistic vision with long-term international collaboration.
Her work focuses on initiating and building international co-productions, developing sustainable production models, and creating long-term relationships between artists, theatres, and festivals across Europe and the UK. She is particularly experienced in projects that require multi-year development processes, institutional partnerships, and complex cross-border production structures.
Between 2005 and 2018, Daltaban produced numerous productions under DOT Theatre Istanbul and oversaw the management and programming of DOT’s own venue. During this period, DOT became a leading platform for contemporary international playwriting in Turkey, introducing major European and British writers to Turkish audiences while fostering new theatrical languages and production practices.
Since 2017, her work has increasingly expanded into international co-production. Most notably, Rhinoceros — a co-production between DOT Theatre, the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and Edinburgh International Festival — returned for the Lyceum’s Spring Season and received the Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland (CATS) for Best Play, with Murat Daltaban awarded Best Director. The production marked a significant milestone in establishing DOT as a trusted international producing partner.
Daltaban is currently leading the international development and production of My Name Is Red, a large-scale theatrical adaptation of the novel by Nobel Prize–winning author Orhan Pamuk. Conceived as a long-term international project, the production is being developed in close collaboration with writers, directors, and partner institutions in the UK and Europe. Daltaban oversees the full production architecture of the project, including commissioning, international partnerships, co-production structures, and long-term touring strategy. Planned to premiere in 2027, My Name Is Red stands as a flagship example of her practice: initiating ambitious, culturally significant projects at an early stage and guiding complex international productions from concept to sustained global presentation.
Alongside producing, Daltaban works closely with writers and directors throughout development phases, often shaping projects from early concept to international touring. Her collaborations include productions staged in Edinburgh, London, and Istanbul in partnership with major theatres and festivals.
In recent years, she has expanded her practice into theatre education and knowledge-sharing. She designs and leads workshops on theatre producing, international production models, institutional development, and dramaturgical thinking for producers and artists. These workshops are delivered both in person and online, alongside one-to-one mentoring. Her teaching practice is grounded in her experience of founding institutions, building venues, and navigating international production ecosystems.
In 2021, Daltaban directed her first stage production, The Honeybear Inside Me by Elvin Aydoğdu, marking an expansion of her artistic practice while continuing her primary role as a producer.
She holds a degree in Psychology from Istanbul University (1989)
She is married to director Murat Daltaban. They have a son, Arda Daltaban (22), who is studying jazz saxophone at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotlan
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (SORT OF) Isobel McArthur
2024 – BKM & DOT Theatre, Istanbul
1984 – Robert Icke & Duncan Macmillan
2023 noted: Nilüfer Kent Theatre, Bursa
NORA – Stef Smith
2022 – Nilüfer Kent Theatre, Bursa
MIDSUMMER – David Greig
2022 – Nilüfer Kent Theatre, Bursa
SHOOT/GET TREASURE/REPEAT – Mark Ravenhill
2022 – Nilüfer Kent Theatre, Bursa
THE HONEYBAR INSIDE ME Elvin Aydoğdu 2021
DOT Theatre (Director: Özlem Daltaban), Istanbul
MRS. PUNTILA AND HER MAN MATTI (JANUARY-APRİL 2020)
ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE EDINBURGH & CITIZENS THEATRE GLOASGOW & DOT THEATRE
Written by Bertolt BRECHT
Adapted by Denise Mina
Directed by Murat Daltaban
MEET ME AT DAWN (OCTOBER 2019)
LONDON ARCOLA THEATRE
Written by Zinnie Harris
Directed by Murat Daltaban
INCENDIES (NOVEMBER 2019)
NILUFER KENT THEATRE (Assosiate Director)
Written by Wajdi Mouwad
Directed by Murat Daltaban
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (5 February 2019)
Adaptation Jack Torn from John Ajvide Lindqvist’s bestselling novel and screenplay
Directed by Murat Daltaban
RHINOCEROS
3 – 12 August 2017 / 2017 EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
23 March – 7 April 2018 / ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE EDINBURGH SEASON
Written by Eugène Ionesco
Adapted by Zinnie Harris Directed by Murat Daltaban
A CO-PRODUCTION WITH EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL AND ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE EDINBURGH IN ASSOCIATION WITH DOT THEATRE AWARDS for Rhinoceros
CRITICS’ AWARDS FOR THEATRE IN SCOTLAND (CATS)
2017 – 2018 Season “Best Production” Rhinoceros
2017 – 2018 Season “Best Director” Murat Daltaban – Rhinoceros
THE PLAYS OF “DOT THEATRE ISTANBUL” (2005-2019)
The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart (21 November 2018)
Written by David Greig / Directed by Murat Daltaban
The Human Ear (19 January 2018)
Written by Alexandra Wood / Directed by Murat Daltaban
Meet Me at Dawn (16 November 2017)
Written by Zinnie Harris / Directed by Murat Daltaban
Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons (5 April 2017)
Written by Sam Steiner / Directed by Mert Öner
How to Hold Your Breath (23 December 2016)
Written by Zinnie Harris / Directed by Murat Daltaban
Growth (8 November 2016)
Written by Luke Norris / Directed by Serkan Salihoğlu
NippleJesus (11 February 2016)
Written by Nick Hornby / Directed by Serkan Salihoğlu
Midwinter (3 December 2015)
Written by Zinnie Harris / Directed by Murat Daltaban
Midsummer (A Play with Songs) (10 December 2014)
Written by David Grieg – Gordon McIntyre Directed by Serkan Salihoğlu
Theatre Uncut ISTANBUL Short Plays Project (February 2014 – May 2014)
READINGS FOR THE 19TH ISTANBUL THEATRE FESTIVAL (16 MAY 2014)
A Lesson in Lynching Written by Ayfer Tunç / Directed by Hannah Price
Like Knocking On the Door of a Familiar House on an Ordinary Day
Written by Berkun Oya / Directed by Murat Daltaban
Apollo 8844 Written by Derem Çıray / Directed by Hannah Price
Police State Written by Davey Anderson / Directed by Hannah Price
Flesh on Bone Written by Hakan Günday / Directed by Murat Daltaban
Smoke (And Mirrors) Written by Stef Smith / Directed by Murat Daltaban
SHORT PLAYS FROM THEATRE UNCUT İSTANBUL WERE READ DURING THE EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL AT THE TRAVERSE THEATRE AUGUST 18TH.
Fight Night (14 March 2014)
Concept, Designed and Written by Alexander Devriendt & Fight Night Original Cast
Directed by Murat Daltaban
Theatre Uncut 1 (20 November 2013)
The Fat Man Written by Anders Lustgarden / Directed by Serkan Salihoğlu
Things That Make No Sense Written by Dennis Kelly / Directed by Tuğrul Tülek
A Bigger Banner Written by Mark Ravenhill / Directed by Serkan Salihoğlu
Fragile Written by David Greig / Directed by Murat Daltaban
Theatre Uncut 2 (15 January 2014)
(3 Short Plays)
Housekeeping Written by Lucy Kirkwood Directed by Murat Daltaban
The Price Written by Lena Kitsopoulou Directed by Pınar Töre
Dalgety Written by David Greig Directed by Murat Daltaban
Overspill (27 March 2013)
Written by Ali Taylor / Directed by Tuğrul Tülek
Der Goldene Drache (8 December 2012)
Written by Roland Schimmelpfenning / Directed by Serkan Salihoğlu
A Play for Two (12 November 2012)
Written by Bülent Erkmen and Aslı Mertan / Directed by Bülent Erkmen
Yellow Moon (26 September 2012)
Written by David Grieg / Directed by Pınar Töre
Beautiful Burnout (6 January 2012)
Written by Bryony Lavery / Directed by Murat Daltaban
Orphans (20 October 2011)
Written by Dennis Kelly / Directed by Tuğrul Tülek
Festen (DOTATKOLEKSIYON) (22 January 2011)
Written by David Eldridge / Directed by Murat Daltaban
Mandrel (28 May 2010)
Written by Hakan Günday / Directed by Murat Daltaban
Staged at the 17th International Istanbul Theatre Festival
Punk Rock (DOTATMARS) (22 April 2010)
Written by Simon Stephens / Directed by Rıza Kocaoğlu
Pornography (DOTATMARS) (19 November 2009)
Written by Simon Stephens / Directed by Murat Daltaban
Shopping and F***ing (4 November 2009)
Written by Mark Ravenhill / Directed by Murat Daltaban
Shoot/Get Treasure/Repeat (DOTATBİLSAR) (16 October 2008 – 6 June 2009)
Written by Mark Ravenhill / Directed by Murat Daltaban
The Storyteller (17 May 2008)
Directed by Murat Daltaban
Staged at the 16th International Istanbul Theatre Festival
Blackbird (14 Febuary 2008)
Written by David Harrower / Directed by Emre Koyuncuoğlu
Mercury Fur (18 October 2007)
Written by Philip Ridley / Directed by Murat Daltaban
Bug (22 September 2006)
Written by Tracy Letts / Directed by Murat Daltaban
A Play for Two (17 May 2006)
Concept, Designed and Directed by Bülent Erkmen
Written by Yekta Kopan
Staged at the 15th International Istanbul Theatre Festival and 4th International Theatre Olympics.
Faraway (23 March 2006)
Written by Carly Churchill / Directed by Emre Koyuncuoğlu
The Censor (2 February 2006)
Written by Anthony Neilson / Consept-Directed by Naz Erayda
Love and Understanding (11 November 2005)
Written by Joe Penhall / Directed by Murat Daltaban
Frozen (22 September 2005)
Written by Bryony Lavery / Directed by Mustafa Avkıran
ozlem@go-dot.org
Murat Daltaban
MURAT DALTABAN
Murat Daltaban was born in Ankara in 1966. Between 1983 and 1987, he studied engineering at Middle East Technical University while simultaneously receiving part-time training in the Opera Department of the Ankara State Conservatory. He later graduated from the Department of Theatre at Ankara University, Faculty of Language, History and Geography, with a degree in Acting in 1992.
He began his professional acting career in 1993 at Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality City Theatres. During this period, he performed major roles such as Prince Andrei in War and Peace by Tolstoy, Iago in Othello by Shakespeare, Jason in Medea by Euripides, and Debuisson in Mission (The Task) by Heiner Müller. In 2004, he left the institution to pursue independent theatre projects.
In 2005, he founded DOT Theatre in Istanbul, introducing a fresh and contemporary approach to theatre in Turkey. As its artistic director and a director himself, Daltaban staged numerous acclaimed national and international productions. His directorial works include Zinnie Harris’ How to Hold Your Breath, Midwinter, and Meet Me at Dawn; David Greig’s The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart, Dalgety, Fragile, and Midsummer (in collaboration with Nilüfer Municipality Theatre); Mark Ravenhill’s Shopping and F**ing* and Shoot/Get Treasure/Repeat; David Harrower’s Orphans; Icke & MacMillan’s 1984; Wajdi Mouawad’s Incendies; Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist, adapted by Jack Thorne; Alexander Devriendt’s Fight Night; Bryony Lavery’s Beautiful Burnout; David Eldridge’s Festen; Hakan Günday’s Mandrel (as part of the 17th Istanbul Theatre Festival); Philip Ridley’s Mercury Fur; Tracy Letts’ Bug; and Simon Stephens’ Pornography.
In 2017 and 2018, he directed Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco, in a new version by Zinnie Harris, as part of the Edinburgh International Festival in collaboration with Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh. Co-produced with DOT Theatre, the production earned two Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland (CATS) for Best Director and Best Production. He also directed Mrs Puntila and Her Man Matti by Denise Mina (after Brecht), co-produced by Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and Glasgow Citizens Theatre.
While continuing his work with DOT, Daltaban also served as the artistic director of Nilüfer Municipality Theatre in Bursa between 2021 and 2024. There, he not only curated the artistic program but also initiated the establishment of an open-air stage within a forest in the region. In 2023, as part of Turkey’s centenary celebrations, he conceived and directed a striking performance at this venue, where theatre students from all over the country simultaneously read aloud 100 significant Turkish novels. This 12-hour performance stood out as a powerful fusion of literature, memory, and theatre.
Throughout his directing career, Daltaban has received numerous prestigious theatre awards. His production of 1984 was named Play of the Year by the Theatre Critics Association of Turkey (TEB) in 2023 and won “Best Production” and “Best Director” at the 25th Afife Theatre Awards. In previous years, his productions Festen / Celebration (2010–11) and Plunder / Ravage / Rebirth (2008–09) were also honoured by TEB. In the 2005–06 season, DOT was awarded Theatre of the Year for its entire body of work. Daltaban has also received Afife and Sadri Alışık Awards for Supernova and Plunder / Ravage / Rebirth.
Today, Murat Daltaban continues his work as the founding artistic director of DOT ISTANBUL and DOT ARTS AND THEATRE EDINBURGH, creating bold and influential work across both Turkish and international stages.