One of Germany's best-known theatre companies has scrapped at the last minute an eagerly-awaited visit to the İstanbul Theatre Festival this month due to "security fears" for the company, AFP reported.
The Schaubuehne Berlin was due to stage two performances of Shakespeare's great historical play "Richard III" on November 17 and 18 at the festival. The İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), which organises the festival, said on Monday that the performances had "unfortunately been cancelled upon the company's last-minute decision."
But the Schaubuehne said Tuesday that the performances were cancelled due to "concerns over our employees" amid the crackdown in Turkey under the AKP government in the wake of the July 15, 2016, failed coup bid, according to the report.
Several Germans have been caught up in the crackdown, causing a major crisis in relations between Berlin and Ankara. The Schaubuehne has taken its production of "Richard III" -- Shakespeare's play about the authoritarian hunchback 15th century English monarch who is ultimately deposed -- to theatres across the world, the report says.
