Happy World Theater Day!
World Theater Day was created by the International Theatre Institute in 1961 in order to celebrate theatre around the world. It is celebrated annually on the 27th of March by ITI Centres and the international theatre community.
Various national and international theatre events are organized to mark this occasion and World Theatre Day is celebrated by ITI National Centres of which there are now almost 100 throughout the world.
The International Theatre Institute (ITI), an international non-governmental organization (NGO) was founded in Prague in 1948 by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and the international theatre community. A worldwide network, ITI aims “to promote international exchange of knowledge and practice in theatre arts (drama, dance, music theatre) in order to consolidate peace and solidarity between peoples, to deepen mutual understanding and increase creative co-operation between all people in the theatre arts.”
According to http://www.world-theatre-day.org/aboutwtd.html, "Various national and international theatre events are organized to mark this occasion. One of the most important of these is the circulation of the World Theatre Day International Message through which at the invitation of ITI, a figure of world stature shares his or her reflections on the theme of Theatre and a Culture of Peace."
This year, Jessica Kaahwa from Uganda, a "renowned playwright, actress, director, and theatre academic, representative of African theatre" has been chosen by the members of the Executive Council of ITI to write the 2011 address.
Message from Kaahwa
(from http://www.world-theatre-day.org/picts/Com_Press_WTD2011EN.pdf)
A Case for Theatre in Service of Humanity
Jessica A. Kaahwa, Uganda
Today’s gathering is a true reflection of the immense potential of theatre to mobilize communities and bridge the divides.
Have you ever imagined that theatre could be a powerful tool for peace and reconciliation? While nations spend colossal sums of money on peace-keeping missions in violent conflict areas of the world, little attention is given to theatre as a one-on-one alternative for conflict transformation and management. How can the citizens of mother-earth achieve universal peace when the instruments employed come from outside and seemingly repressive powers?
Theatre subtly permeates the human soul gripped by fear and suspicion, by altering the image of self - and opening a world of alternatives for the individual and hence the community. It can give meaning to daily realities while forestalling an uncertain future. It can engage in the politics of peoples' situations in simple straightforward ways. Because it is inclusive, theatre can present an experience capable of transcending previously held misconceptions.
Additionally, theatre is a proven means of advocating and advancing ideas that we collectively hold and are willing to fight for when violated.
To anticipate a peaceful future, we must begin by using peaceful means that seek to understand, respect and recognize the contributions of every human being in the enterprise of harnessing peace. Theatre is that universal language by which we can advance messages of peace and reconciliation.
By actively engaging participants, theatre can bring many-a-soul to deconstruct previously held perceptions, and, in this way, gives an individual the chance of rebirth in order to make choices based on rediscovered knowledge and reality. For theatre to thrive, among other art forms, we must take the bold step forward by incorporating it into daily life, dealing with critical issues of conflict and peace.
In pursuance of social transformation and reformation of communities, theatre already exists in war-torn areas and among populations suffering from chronic poverty or disease. There are a growing number of success stories where theatre has been able to mobilize publics to build awareness and to assist post-war trauma victims. Cultural platforms such as the “International Theatre Institute” which aims at “consolidating peace and friendship between peoples” arealready in place.
It is therefore a travesty to keep quiet in times like ours, in the knowledge of the power of theatre, and let gun wielders and bomb launchers be the peacekeepers of our world. How can tools of alienation possibly double as instruments of peace and reconciliation?
I urge you on this World Theatre Day to ponder this prospect and to put theatre forth as a universal tool for dialogue, social transformation and reform. While the United Nations spends colossal amount of monies on peacekeeping missions around the world, through the use of arms, theatre is a spontaneous, human, less costly and by far a more powerful alternative.
While it may not be the only answer for bringing peace, theatre should surely be incorporated as an effective tool in peacekeeping missions.
Online presence
I Googled "World Theater Day" and discovered that there's no Wikipedia entry for it, which, in this day and age, almost makes it feel like it's not a real event, kekeke!
Anyhoo, here are two blogs I discovered that claim to be the official blogs for World Theater Day:
http://worldtheatreday.org/
http://worldtheatreday.co/
For my readers in the Philippines, if you have any events related to World Theater Day, please email me at theaterbator@gmail.com and we'll see if I can post your announcements here.
What will you be doing to celebrate/commemorate World Theater Day? Share your comments.
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