Theatre Olympics 2018 is an opportunity for India to raise its position in the world theatre scene and display its talent on an international stage, says Saurav Kar
India is all geared up to host the 8th edition of the Theatre Olympics for the very first time. The event is to take place from February 17th, 2018 to April 8th, 2018 and around 500 plays and 700 ambience performances will be staged during the time. The announcement was made on Wednesday by Mahesh Sharma, the Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, Government of India.
He said, “I strongly believe that the 8th Theatre Olympics will make its mark in India’s rich cultural history and will prove to be a milestone. Cultural Ministry, Government of India is committed to support this grand initiative. We will request the Prime Minister of India to inaugurate the 8th Theatre Olympics in New Delhi and the President of India to be a part of the concluding ceremony in Mumbai.”
The Theatre Olympics promises to be a big occassion. Waman Kendre, the director of National School of Drama added more to the conference, “This is for the first time, India is trying to showcase and exchange theatre in front of the world. When it comes to theatre, it doesn’t get any bigger than the Theatre Olympics and it is indeed a proud moment for National School of Drama that it has got the opportunity to organise this prestigious event. NSD is all geared up to play the perfect host as India will be the cynosure of the theatre world and we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that Theatre Olympics in India is a great success.”
The Theatre Olympics will not only include theatre plays but many other allied activities like exhibitions, seminars, symposia, interactive discussions and workshops with well-known academicians, authors, actors, designers and directors will be a delight to the whole event.
Ratan Thiyam, Chairperson, NSD Society said, “It is a great feeling of joy and happiness that the prestigious event of Theatre Olympics is taking place in India, a country which is proud of its innovation and heritage and it will provide a valuable platform to showcase significant productions of groups from India and abroad. India is proud of its ancient tradition and cultural heritage.”
The opening ceremony will be held in New Delhi and will see the participation of hundreds of artists. The closing ceremony will take place in Mumbai.
The Theatre Olympics was initiated in 1993 at Delphi, Greece and since then has been organised all over the world with many talented artists and groups getting a platform to showcase their talent.
Thiyam, one of the renowned playwrights and theatre director, also spoke about the relevance of theatre in todays society, “In the new cultural landscape, technology has penetrated all spheres of our life. But we also require a compatible ambience peace and happiness and art provides us the expression of experience of the world and aspirations of the human spirit. In this changing world and challenging journey, theatre serves as a confluence of river of modernity, the past, present and future where very important issues, complex, aesthetics and philosophical challenges are negotiated.”