Seyirciler

Seyirciler, Turkish for "spectators" or "audience," refers to people who observe a performance, event, or spectacle. The term derives from seyir ("watching, viewing") and the agent nominalizing suffix -ci, yielding seyirci, plural seyirciler. It is used primarily in live performance contexts such as theatre, concerts, cinema, and sports events.

Seyirciler occupy an active role in live events through reactions such as applause, laughter, or silence. Their presence can influence performers and pacing, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as the audience effect. In Turkish, seyirci is contrasted with izleyici, which more broadly denotes a viewer or observer in media contexts, including television or online streaming.

Historically, Turkish culture has long valued public theatre and staged performances, with audiences forming social spaces in Ottoman and early Republican periods. Over time, with urbanization and the rise of cinema and television, the term broadened to include spectators at sports arenas and open-air festivals. Contemporary use often notes attendance figures as seyirci sayısı or seyirciler; crowd management and safety protocols at stadiums and theatres are part of industry practice.

In modern discourse, the concept of the seyirci also encompasses expectations around accessibility, representation, and interaction with performers. Virtual and hybrid formats have expanded how spectators participate, while live attendance remains central to the cultural economy of performing arts and sports in Turkey. See also izleyici, seyir, tiyatro, futbol stadyumu.