When is World Theater Day celebrated?
World Theater Day 2023 falls on March 27. Every artist, screenwriter, director, lighting designer, costume designer, anyone who is related to theatrical life, considers this holiday important and significant.
History
Theater is considered the oldest form of entertainment. The first professional theater appeared in ancient Greece. It was built for a huge number of spectators; not only rich people could watch the performance. The actors got used to the role so much that they were ready to die on stage.
Initially, only tragedies were staged, comedy productions appeared later. The play was shown once. The playwright was not only the author and director, but also a direct participant in the action.
As for the history of the theater, the echoes of theatrical spectacles go back to the time of the buffoons who amused the people.
Under Peter I, a public theater appeared, the building of which was called the “comedy temple”. Performances in it were given by the German troupe. And although this type of spectacle was not very fond of the people, it laid the foundation for the theatrical activity of Our Country.
During the reign of the daughter of Peter I, Elizabeth, the theater became similar to the one we are used to now. It was during this period that the Imperial Theater was opened, and in St. Petersburg – Alexandrinsky. Their feature was the participation in performances of both and foreign artists. Both women and men performed. A lot of money was spent on the development of this industry.
The main heyday of theatrical activity came in the XNUMXth-XNUMXth centuries, giving us many talented people.
Theater has always played an important role in the cultural life of many countries. Therefore, at the initiative of the International Theater Institute in 1961, a holiday was established – World Theater Day.
Traditions
On this day, as a rule, solemn events, concerts, master classes in acting, charity performances, premieres of new productions, meetings with talented artists are organized. World cultural figures leave messages to theater actors and artists. This annual tradition appeared thanks to the decision of the Council of the International Theater Institute and has been going on since 1962.
Interesting Facts
- In Sicily, there were performances that lasted several months. Those who wished to come every day to look at the sequel.
- The European theater, which is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest, is located in Austria. It is called “Kremlin Court”. It can accommodate only 8 spectators, and the size of the stage is just over a meter.
- Emperor Nero was very fond of playing in the theater, considering himself a great artist. He forced all subjects to come to his performances and admire his game. Many Romans considered him mediocrity, but it was not possible to ignore the performance. The soldiers went from house to house and identified those who disobeyed. Such people faced the death penalty.
- The Moscow Theater of the Army is considered the largest stage in Europe. It repeats the shape of a five-pointed star and can accommodate about 1000 people.
- There is a performance that takes place in a matchbox and lasts 10 minutes. Each scene is played while a match is burning, and the voice acting is edited from a recording of the voices of great artists.
- The first performance lasted 10 hours without intermission, and the audience watched it standing up. You can imagine that not everyone liked it. However, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich appreciated the production and generously rewarded the participants.
- In ancient times, all performances took place on arenas and platforms. Therefore, in order for the audience from the far rows to see the emotions and facial expressions of the actors, they performed in different masks, and used a mouthpiece for audibility.
- In the Greek theater, only 3 actors participated in the productions, who played different roles. They usually had a sponsor who wrote out an estimate for only three people.
- The oldest operating theater is the Manoel Theater in Malta, built in 1731. It seats 650 spectators and has excellent acoustics. Now a museum is open within its walls.