Dame Judi Dench – Message 2010

World Theatre Day is an opportunity to celebrate Theatre in all its myriad forms. Theatre is a source of entertainment and inspiration and has the ability to unify the many diverse cultures and peoples that exist throughout the world. But theatre is more than that and also provides opportunities to educate and inform.

Theatre is performed throughout the world and not always in a traditional theatre setting. Performances can occur in a small village in Africa, next to a mountain in Armenia, on a tiny island in the Pacific. All it needs is a space and an audience. Theatre has the ability to make us smile, to make us cry, but should also make us think and reflect.

Theatre comes about through team work. Actors are the people who are seen, but there is an amazing set of people who are not seen. They are equally as important as the actors and their differing and specialist skills make it possible for a production to take place. They too must share in any triumphs and successes that may hopefully occur.

March 27 is always the official World Theatre Day. In many ways every day should be considered a theatre day, as we have a responsibility to continue the tradition to entertain, to educate and to enlighten our audiences, without whom we couldn’t exist.

With just over a week before the celebrations begin, you may be wanting to get the word out on WTD09 to your city or local theatre community. With that in mind we’ve prepared a downloadable getting started kit for your use.

You’ll find a comprehensive background to the day itself, some ideas for celebrating, a copy of the WTD address – this year written by Augusto Boal – and a template document which you can use to insert your contact details and company’s plans for WTD09. Fill in the template and send it on its merry way.

This is the first time that the networking power of the web has been used to generate interest and engagement in World Theatre Day.  Please join us on March 27th wherever you are in the wide world.

I’ve had a lot of people asking me what they can do to celebrate World Theatre Day.   The easy answer is reading the speech, but check out what this Australian group is doing.  They’re doing a flash mob that is all about spreading joy & cheer on World Theatre Day.  I can’t imagine a better fit.

Laugh-a-Minute will commence at exactly 12pm midday, whevever you are at that moment, somewhere in Sunshine Plaza. A large group of us will congregate under the Clock Tower by the River Stage but if you are somewhere else at that moment in time, stay there!

For 1 minute’s duration, wherever you are, LAUGH!!!!!

That’s all!

Laughter is contagious. Make somebody laugh! Make somebody’s day! Make this your random act of kindness for the day. It’s World Theatre Day. It’s 1 minute out of your day.

Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble are opening up a dress-rehearsal run of Shakespeare’s Shorts to the general public on World Theatre Day.

Shakespeare’s Shorts are fast and funny half hour versions of the original scripts, delivered with QSE’s trademark clarity and accessibility. Each of the Shorts also features gentle audience participation to get everyone into the action.

The Half-Hour Hamlet takes out all the procrastination – the tragedy is performed in 20 minutes, then, in 7 minutes, and again, in just 3.
Instant Romeo & Juliet turns the tragedy of the star-crossed lovers into a high-paced comedy with plenty of wooden-sword-buckling.

These celebrated shows are rarely performed for a general audience (usually only at corporate events and festivals). This one-off performance is a celebration of World Theatre Day and is free to everyone.

If you’re in Brisbane Australia on the day, get along at 7pm to the Michie Amphitheatre, University of Queensland, St Lucia.

Want to know more about QSE? Check them out on their website.