Top names in Turkish theater received awards in 14 categories Monday during the 15th annual Yapı Kredi Afife Theater Awards, given out an Istanbul ceremony that featured a special ballet performance by Tan Sağtürk.

One of the most important traditions in Turkish theater, the awards were named after and inspired by Afife Jale, the first Turkish woman to take to the stage. They recognize individual achievement in theatrical performance and promote respect for Turkish theater.

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality City Theaters’ play “Tehlikeli İlişkiler” (Dangerous Relations) was presented with the Best Production of the Year Award at the ceremony, held at Istanbul’s Lütfi Kırdar International Congress and Exhibition Center. The Best Director of the Year Award went to the play’s director, Aleksandar Popovski.

This year’s Best Actor of the Year Award went to Reha Özcan for his role in Istanbul State Theaters’ “Bedensiz Kadın” (Woman without a Body), while the Best Actress of the Year Award was won by Ahu Türkpençe for her role in Duru Theater’s “Sondan Sonra” (After the End).

The real winner of the night was Turkish theater, and its workers, artists and spectators, said Afife Theater Awards Voting Committee Chairman Salih Başağa.

Yapı Kredi Executive Director and Chairman of the Executive Committee Faik Açıkalın said the Afife Theater Awards hold a very special place for the bank, which has been a supporter of the arts for 67 years. “The Afife Theater Awards, which have continued successfully for 15 years, are a reflection of Yapı Kredi’s vision in the field of culture and the arts. Our contributions to the awards will continue in the future,” he said.

A book titled “Bir Ödülün Onurlandırdıkları” (Those Honored With an Award) has been prepared to mark the 15th year of the Afife Theater Awards, Başağa, adding that the book – to be released this week – was expected to become a source of reference for Turkish theater.

Awards for Best Supporting Actor and Actress went to Civan Canova for his role in “Ölüleri Gömün” (Bury the Dead) and Sema Çeyrekbaşıoğlu for her role in “Temiz Eve” (The Clean House).

The Best Comedy/Musical Actor and Actress awards were presented to Toron Karacaoğlu and Ayça Varlıer, while Bahtiyar Engin and Selen Uçer won for best actor and actress in a supporting role in the genre.

The Muhsin Ertuğrul Special Award was presented to actress Müjdat Gezen; the Nisa Serezli Aşkıner Special Award to Dilek Türker; the Cevat Fehmi Başkut Special Award to Tuncer Cücenoğlu; and the New Generation in Theater Special Award to the artists of the play “Punk Rock.” The Yapı Kredi Insurance Special Award went to Professor Ayşegül Yüksel.

The results of the competition titled “Sahne Senin” (The Stage is Yours), organized as part of the Yapı Kredi Afife Theater Awards to support new ideas and talents, were also announced at the ceremony. The winners, Kayhan Yaşar and Ceren Kayış, each won free theater education at the Müjdat Gezen Art Center and an Apple iPad