World Theater Day - a holiday for votaries and spectators of stage
World Theatre Day was initiated in 1961 by the IX Congress of the International Theatre Institute. It is celebrated annually on the 27th March by the international theatre community: actors, stage directors, producers, lighting technicians, sound engineers, set makers, usheters and cloakroom attendants. Many premieres and theater festivals are traditionally timed to this date.
The word “theater” comes from the ancient Greek word theatron (θέατρον), which means “a place where people are watching.” Traditionally, the theater plays two of the most popular genres – comedy and tragedy, symbolized by theatrical masks.
The mention of the first theatrical production dates back to 2500 BC. The first theatrical play took place in Egypt; the plot was the images of Egyptian mythology – the story of the god Osiris. It was also the birth of a long and lasting bond between theater and religion.
In ancient Greece, theater began to take shape as an art, and clear definitions of tragedy and comedy, as well as other theatrical forms, were established. Ancient Greek theatrical performances also used mythological imagery.
World Theater Day is not just an international professional holiday of stage masters, but also a holiday of millions of grateful spectators.
Today, there are 10 state theaters in Turkmenistan, including 6 located in the capital and four – in provinces, folk and amateur theaters are excluded. Turkmen theatre art organically combines folklore and classics, national and world culture.
The Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan has created a special Internet site “Turkmen Theaters” where information about performances, theater figures, and contacts of all main theaters of the country is available.