Commemorating World Theatre Day

Day.
The day which was proclaimed in 1962 by the International Theatre Institute is annually celebrated by the international theatre community – theatres, theatre institutions, ministries of arts and culture, theatre education institutions, theatre companies, theatre practitioners.
The World Theatre Day has become a grand occasion and opportunity for all to celebrate the power of the performing arts to bring people together. The International Theatre Institute has a large international network for performing arts.
At present it operates through national centres in more than 90 countries
The International Theatre Institute collaborates in mounting theatre activities with the following international organisations in the field of performing arts: International Association for Theatre for Children and Young People, International Amateur Theatre Association, International Federation of Actors, and the International Federation of Theatre Research, International Association of Theatre at the University, International Puppeteers Union, International Organisation of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians, and the International Society of Libraries and Museums for the Performing Arts.
The International Theatre Institute which is
Unesco’s main partners in the field of theatre seeks “to promote international exchange of knowledge and practice in the domain of the performing arts; to stimulate creation and cooperation between theatre people and to deepen mutual understanding in order to participate in strengthening peace and friendship among peoples of the worlds and to join in the defence of the ideals and aims of Unesco.”
One of the highlights of the day is the reading of the World Theatre Day message. This year’s World Theatre Day Message would be from Dr Jessica Kaahwa – a theatre for development practitioners and theatre academic at the University of Makerere, Uganda.
In her message which is based on the theme of making “a case for theatre in service of humanity” Dr Kaahwa states:
Today’s gathering is a true reflection of the immense potential of theatre to mobilise communities and bridge the divide. Have you ever imagined that theatre could be a powerful tool for peace and reconciliation?”
The international message would be read at all World Theatre Day celebrations in different parts of the world. The message, which will be translated to more than 20 languages would be distributed to audiences before presentation of theatre performances.
It will also be printed in “hundreds of daily newspapers and heard on countless radio and television stations.
In Zimbabwe, the International Theatre Institute (Zimbabwe Centre) has planned to commemorate the World Theatre Day on Saturday, March 26 at the Theatre in the Park in Harare.
The programme of the day include the reading of the international message as well as the national message by the chairman of the Steering Committee of the ITI Zimbabwe Centre Zane Lucas.
Other activities planned for the World Theatre Day celebrations include the reading of a play, “Spin” which has been written by Tawanda Kanengoni; discussions about the International Theatre Institute and the activities of national centre world wide and presentations of plays by Savanna Trust, Patsime Edutainment Trust, Chipawo Trust, Theory X Media and Shooting Stars.
Entrance to the Theatre in the Park celebrations scheduled to start at 1400hrs and conclude at 1700hrs will be free of charge to both theatre practitioners and the general public.
It is hoped that members of the Zimbabwe Centre of the International Theatre Institute will interface with the media in order to discuss various developments in the theatre sector in Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe Theatre Association has planned to commemorate the World Theatre Day on Friday 25th March with a high profiled function in Harare at which several Zimbabwean theatre practitioners and institutions will receive recognition awards.
The awards, which will be presented annually on the World Theatre Day, are regarded as a prime recognition to life long achievement and unique contributions to the growth and development of theatre in Zimbabwe.
Although the ZITA awards will stand out ass the prime event to commemorate the World Theatre Day, there groups which are members of the association will hold celebrations that include presentation of theatre performances in their communities. It is expected that these celebrations will be co-ordinated by the cluster leaders in the ZiTA’s five clusters covering the whole Zimbabwe.
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