Theatre actor, puppeteer (Karagöz). Born
on the 31st of May 1923
in Istanbul. His full name is M. Taceddin Diker. He
graduated from 5. Beyazıt Primary School and Istanbul Erkek High School. He was
introduced to traditional theatrical plays as a primary school student. He
joined courses opened by İrfan Açıkgöz, Nurettin Sevin and Ragıp Tuğtekin and
acquired the permission to produce and perform Karagöz plays. He watched
theatres of famous figures such as Naşit Özcan, Hazım Körmükçü, Cemal Reşit Rey
and Musahipzade Celal. In this way his passion for theatre increased. He
established a performance branch in Küçükpazar Halkodası and started his
theatrical works. He increased his knowledge by joining courses of production
and performance led by Camcı İrfan Açıkgöz, Nurettin Sevin and Ragıp Tuğtekin.
He started to teach in 1974
in Karagöz production, performance and renewal courses
opened by the Ministry of Culture. He organized plays between 1974 and 2009 in Akbank Karagöz and
Puppet Theatre.
After working for 25 years in Ziraat
Bank, Tacettin Diker retired from here. He was one of the founders of UNIMA
(International Union of Puppet and Shadow Plays) in 1990. In 1992 he played a
role in the series Kukla Kal shot by Turkish Radio and Television
Association (TRT). He played Karagöz in 1997 in Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality City
Theatre as a guest artist in the play Ah Karagöz Vah Karagöz directed by
Çetin İpekkaya and written by Fikret Terzi. He managed the Karagöz production
course opened within Istanbul University’s Faculty of Literature, Department of
Fine Arts and in 1998 production and performance course of Karagöz School
opened by Foundation of Children. He participated to numerous festivals and
events at home and abroad. He organized workshops in France, Germany,
Netherlands, Tunisia, Cyprus, Italy and Austria. He appeared in the work Alnında
Işığı İlk HissedenTiyatro Sanatçıları edited by Vedat Demirci in 2003.
Diker who received numerous awards
during his career was awarded with Service to Turkish Culture Foundation Award
in 1985, Folklore Research Institute’s İhsan Hınçer Service to Turkish Folklore
Prize in 1987, Turkish Literature Foundation’s Service to Turkish Folklore
Prize in 1988, Foundation of Children’s Service to Arts Prize in 1991, UNIMA
Turkey National Center’s UNIMA Traditional Turkish Theatre Service Prize due to
his contribution to arts in 1996, and appeared in 2006 in the “Living Human
Treasure” as one of the 7 people determined by UNESCO in order to recreate and
reinterpret certain elements of our cultural heritage who have the required
skills and knowledge. He was awarded with 3rd International Istanbul
Puppet Festival Honor Prize in 2000, 5th International Puppet and
Shadow Plays Festival Honor Prize in 2001. Due to his successful works, he was
a guest at the Dutch, Belgian, Austrian, French and Italian televisions aside
from Turkish televisions. Numerous interviews were done with him in radio and
television programs.
