Serdar Biliş was born in Istanbul, where he studied theatre before moving to London to pursue a career in directing. He holds an MA in Theatre Directing from Middlesex University and works internationally, particularly in London and Istanbul. In London, he was invited to the prestigious National Theatre Directing Course and received the Channel 4 Director’s Award.
In the UK, Serdar has served as an associate director at both the Arcola Theatre in London and the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, focusing on developing new plays and adapting classic works. He is the artistic director of his independent theatre company, Pürtelaş Theatre, which has co-produced Saatleri Ayarlama Enstitüsü and Afife, both of which received critical acclaim.
Serdar is also deeply committed to education. For the past decade, he has been a lecturer at Kadir Has University, where he teaches postgraduate directing and collaborates with final-year acting students on devised projects. Since 2018, he has also been teaching and directing at Teatro Della Toscana, Scuola di Formazione del Mestiere dell’Attore, in Florence.
Iphigenia (2026) – Arcola Theatre
Afife (2024) – Afife Theatre – Zorlu PSM
Shakespeare In Love (2023) – SAKM – Zorlu PSM
The Time Regulation Institute (2022) – SAATLER KOLEKTİF
Aydınlıkevler (2021) – BKM
Iphigenia (2021) – Istanbul Municipal Theatre
Alice (2019) – ZORLU PSM / BKM / ID
The Seagull (2017) – Istanbul International Theatre Festival / Pürtelaş Theatre
Romeo and Juliet (2015) – Bursa Municipal Theatre
Twelfth Night (2015) – Istanbul Municipal Theatre
War (2014) – Purtelas Theatre
Sex And The Three Day Week (2014) – Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse
Bright Phoenix (2013) – Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse
Curse Of The Starving Classes (2012) – Eskisehir Municipal Theatre
Tempest (2010) – Istanbul International Festival
May Queen (2007) – Liverpool Everman and Playhouse
Tartuffe (2004) – Arcola Theatre
Night Just Before The Forests (2004) – Arcola Theatre
At Kadir Has University he has developed numerous shows:
Romeo & Juliet (2024)
Father (2023) – A Devised Project Based on Autobiographical Stories
Mother (2022) – A Devised Project Based on Autobiographical Stories
Birthday party (2019) – A devised play based on Festen by David Eldridge
Oresteia (2018)
Şahmeran (2018) – A devised based on Golden Dragon by Roland Schimmelpfennig
Innocence (2017)
Lunapark (2016) – A devised play based on Kasimir And Caroline by Oden Von Horvarth
Lear (2015)
Dream (2015)
Cloud Nine (2014)
At Scuola di formazione del mestiere dell’attore:
A Midsummer night’s dream (2018)
The Seagull (2017)
Billy Liar (2006) – Everyman & Playhouse
Proper Clever (2008) – Everyman & Playhouse
Sex and the Three Day Week (2014) – Everyman & Playhouse
