World Theatre Day During Lockdown; How to Get Dramatic and Stay Happy

World Theatre Day During Lockdown; How to get Dramatic And Stay Happy
In 1961, the International Theatre Institute had initiated the World Theatre Day to pay respect to the artists around the world and encourage performing arts as a means of infotainment.
World Theatre Day During Lockdown; How to get Dramatic And Stay Happy
In 1961, the International Theatre Institute had initiated the World Theatre Day to pay respect to the artists around the world and encourage performing arts as a means of infotainment.

World Theatre Day is celebrated on 27th March across the world. Every year the International Theatre Institute celebrates the annual event across its institutes in more than 90 countries, by organising events at their respective centres.

But India is under lockdown due to coronavirus

Its a World Theatre Day and the whole country is under lockdown. What does this mean for you?

Before we venture more into the aesthetics of the information on the day, allow me to share a figment of my imagination. Theatre is nothing but an expression. Even coronavirus should not stop you from expressing your smiles and reading up on your favourite plays.

Under lockdown, make it a point to revisit all your favourite plays through books or TV. If you live in a group (say a family) bring the folks together and stage a play on some of your favourite stories (Yeah, watch the kids try and mumble Shakespear).

Back to the pavilion…

More on the World Theatre Day, in 1961, the International Theatre Institute had initiated the World Theatre Day to pay respect to the artists around the world and encourage performing arts as a means of infotainment. Theatre has been able to bring in voices of the neglected in the foray and gave a platform to artists to convey their emotions and messages across to a broader audience.

International Theatre Institute, the world’s largest performing arts organisation, has more than 90 institutes across as many countries. The ITI was founded in 1948 by various performing artists and UNESCO, specially dedicated to the betterment and protection of performing arts on the line of UNESCO’s goal.

Every year notable personalities, especially from the field of performing arts are chosen to address the World Theatre Day International message. Several events and theatre shows are held across the world in ITI member countries, to mark the value and importance of performing arts and talks about how governments around the globe should provide space for theatre groups.

Since time immemorial, the theatre has acted as a platform for artists to not only showcase their talent as artists but theatre has also been a platform to take up social issues concerning the general public and make them more aware about the situations prevailing in the world. It has challenged the orthodoxy present in society. In some historical occasions, the theatre has been a platform for resentment against the age-old dogma prevalent in society.

In India, this year, the day is being celebrated by ITI India and various theatre groups across the country just like every year. The city of Surat usually organises a Theatre Marathon to mark World Theatre Day, such events will start at the mid-night of 27th March and will end on midnight of 28th March. Previously, ‘Ranghotra – a theatre marathon’ was staged to include more than 80 plays in 24 hours and that too in six different languages Hindi, Sanskrit, Marathi, Gujarati, English and Bengali.