Canine Teeth, A Stand Up Monolgoue

The review Hub - Jacob Bush  "In Canine Teeth,writer and performer Ayse Balkos shares her stories, most true and some slightly dramatised, of growing up as a Turkish woman. The show explores gender expectations in Turkish culture through its examination of the experiences of Balkos, her mother and her grandmother as single women.

Ayse Balkos is clearly an excellent writer. She intersperses different parts of different stories well, and includes a moment of spoken word poetry. She has moments where she is fully engaging, especially in moments where she brings to life vivid characters other than herself. There are moments where one can see this piece has the potential to be something in the realm ofFleabag, using humour, emotion and caricatures to create a show that has something clear to say about the struggles of today’s society."

The show details a young Turkish woman's awakening to her female power after a devastating day. It is about exploring the woman's role in the Turkish society whilst the theme of expectations of being a woman prove itself to be universal. First performed at the Migration Matters festival in Sheffield in June 2022.

The play is about a young modern woman navigating her life in Istanbul whilst coming to terms with traditions and personal tragedies against backdrop of eco’s of patriarchal society in modern times. With her survival on the line, Canine Teeth (Ayse) questions the place given to her in the society in a hilarious, insightful and ultimately devastating day. 

Ayse uses dry comedy and video projection with music and spoken word to stimulate the commentary on gender politics and expectation of being a woman.A journey into Ayse’s alternative realities with Canine Teeth features a complex dynamic between Canine teeth (Ayse) and her mother and Turkish culture which is obsessed with woman and marriage.

The play draws inspiration from the writer’s (Ayse’s ) past - her childhood memories of unapproachable single mother and traditional grandmother, her employment at a corporate workspace and drunken wondering nights.

Ayse wanted to emphasise on the harmful narratives told by families and society about womanhood and their negative effects on the young women, especially amplified by generational mother and daughter relationship.

.

VIDEOS

THE AUDIENCES FEED BACK

• “Thank you for the important questions,  worst and all”;  Valid
• “My favourite bit was the shark. The grandma was funny.”
• “An amazing experience to be brought along with the story. The pictures really helped build the visual image of the cultural influences. As tory which resonated thoroughly with being a woman and the pressures of expectations of society upon us. Fantastic, well done and well told”; Sarah Holman 
• “Enjoyed. Play raised many important issues at face.”
• “I find the whole story very engaging and I wanted to know what was going to happen. I thought the different threads were well woven together. I did feel transpired through the lens of Elif. Ayse, you have engaging impactful stage presence. Thoroughly enjoyed it.”;  Clare
• “You are a compelling storyteller. I’d love to see the projection used through out to highlight your story.”
• “Moving, riveting, emotional - an amazing insight into a lived experience. Great visuals combined with storytelling and songs. Brilliant!”;  Paula Edwards
• “A beautiful, insightful journey. And funny. Thank you!”;  Inkeri Medley
• “Very engaging and interesting
• Powerful and provocative”
• “Very good, very powerful. At the end I was hooked on every word!”  Harriet
• “Wonderfully informative and enjoyable journey into your world. Thank you for being so brave. Imaginative songs, great story telling technique. I enjoyed it all!”
• “I found it very powerful. Your ability to jump between storied but keep us following and keep the impact was incredible.”
• “A powerful expression of managing the expectations of being a woman and cultural expectations. Creative and passionate.”