This day is celebrated to promote theatre and cultural exchange
It was started by the International Theatre Institute on 27 March 1962. On this occasion a global message is given by a famous theatre personality, which explains the role of theatre and its impact on society.
The history of theatre is deeply connected with human civilisation and it developed in different forms in different cultures. The formal history of theatre in Western civilisation is considered to have started from ancient Greece (around 5th century BC). Here theatrical performances began in honour of Dionysus (the god of wine and merriment). Playwrights like Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides gave birth to tragedy, while Aristophanes popularised comedy.
The history of theatre in India is linked to Natyashastra, written by Bharat Muni between around 200 BC and 200 AD. It is the oldest dramatic theory book in the world. Sanskrit plays like Kalidasa's "Abhigyan Shakuntalam" and folk dance-dramas like Tamasha and Nautanki flourished during this period. Proscenium theatre came under Western influence during the colonial period, but after independence, playwrights like Habib Tanvir, Ibrahim Alkaji and Vijay Tendulkar gave a new identity to Indian theatre.
Theatre in ancient China developed during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), in which a mixture of music, dance and acting was seen. Later, the opera genre developed in the Yuan Dynasty (13th-14th century).
In Europe, theatre had taken a religious form in the Middle Ages. "Mystery Plays" and "Miracle Plays" depicted Christian stories through the church. The Renaissance in the 14th-15th century made theatre secular again, in which playwrights like Shakespeare emerged. In India during this period, Bhakti and Sufi movements gave birth to folk theatre like Rasleela and Bhaand.
In Europe, the 17th-18th centuries saw the development of theatre by writers like Molière (France) and Goldsmith (England). Opera and ballet also became popular. The 19th century saw the rise of realism, with playwrights like Ibsen and Chekhov raising social issues. In the 20th century, theatre became experimental. Brecht's "Epic Theatre" and Stanislavsky's "Method Acting" gave it a new direction. In India, the Indian People's Theatre Association used theatre for social awareness.
Today, theatre is evolving with digital and multimedia. Street theatre, improv and interactive performances have made it more popular. Theatre in India is now flourishing in many regional languages, and many institutions are promoting it.
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