World Theatre Day 2022: History, significance, and message; all you need to know

Theatre is a blend of several genres of fine art that incorporates live performers, actors to tell stories about a real experience in a specific location or on a stage to a live audience. 

Theatre's prominence is waning these days, and it's all due to a lack of understanding and awareness of one of the oldest mediums of mass communication and entertainment. 

Those who are directly connected to the theatres, especially after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, are in utter distress. 

People and institutes around the globe are commemorating the 60th World Theatre Day today. Initiated by International Theatre Institute (ITI), the World Theatre Day's observance this time is more to sound alert.

Today is the 60th World Theatre Day, and people and institutions all across the world are commemorating it. The World Theatre Day observance this year, which was started by the International Theatre Institute, is more of a wake-up call. It is a wake-up call for governments, legislators, organisations, and individuals to recognise the importance of theatre.

One of the most important activities for the day is the distribution of the World Theatre Day International Message, in which a global icon shares his or her insights on the theme of Theatre and a Culture of Peace at the invitation of the International Theatre Institute.

History

The International Theatre Institute (ITI) established World Theatre Day in 1962, and it was celebrated for the first time on March 27, 1962. Jean Cocteau, the French poet, wrote the first World Theatre Day message. Since then, every year on that date, World Theatre Day has been observed around the world.

Significance

To spread awareness of the art form around the world.
To raise public awareness of the art form's importance.
To empower the dance and theatre communities to promote their work on a large scale so that opinion leaders recognise and support the worth of these art forms.
To appreciate the art form for what it is.

Message

Every year, the International Theatre Institute's Executive Committee selects a distinguished theatre figure to compose the message for World Theatre Day. Peter Sellars has been selected as the author for the World Theatre Day 2022 message.

Peter Sellars is an opera, theatre, and festival director from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has won international acclaim for his trailblazing and creative renderings of classics, as well as for promoting 20th century and contemporary music. Sellars was also chosen because of his collaborative efforts with a diverse group of creative and performing talents.

"Theater is the creation on earth of the space of equality between humans, gods, plants, animals, raindrops, tears, and regeneration. The space of equality and deep listening is illuminated by hidden beauty, kept alive in a deep interaction of danger, equanimity, wisdom, action, and patience", Sellars said in his message.



PUKmedia / News 9