World Theatre Day
Created in 1961 by UNESCO, World Theatre Day is celebrated annually on March 27 by theatre communities around the globe. The impetus behind World Theatre Day is to honour and further the goal of UNESCO’s International Theatre Institute (ITI) to celebrate the power of theatre to serve as an indispensable bridge-builder for mutual international understanding and peace as well as to promote and protect cultural diversity and identity in communities throughout the world.
Learn more about World Theatre Day internationally by clicking here.
Explore a theatre near you & #GoSeeAShow
In Canada, World Theatre Day has also become a national rallying cry to policy-makers and partners as to the importance of supporting this sector.
World-class theatre is being created every day across this country, by companies large and small, rural and urban. With studies reporting a national rise in feelings of loneliness and isolation, Canada’s theatres offer a vital opportunity. Theatre is about connection – the spark between audience and performers as the curtain rises, the shared experience as a community, and the conversations that linger after the final bow.
If theatre is important to you, here are three ways you can show your support in the lead up to World Theatre Day:
- Book a ticket to go see a show and post about it using #GoSeeAShow. Not sure where to start? You can find a map of national theatres and event listings at https://www.pact.ca/membership/theatre-map.
- Contact your elected officials at all levels, and let them know theatre is important to you, and you support increase public funding. It is quick, easy, and you only need your postal code.
- Encourage others by sharing a favourite theatre experience on social media using the hashtags #RallyForTheatre and #WorldTheatreDay
Every year in Canada, an outstanding playwright, actor, artistic director, storyteller, or creator is selected as an ambassador of Canadian theatre for World Theatre Day, and invites Canadians to join in and experience the joy and the power of theatre.
Resources to Celebrate World Theatre Day
Download PACT's World Theatre Day social media share kit, lobby signage, media releases, and other resources by clicking the button below.
Impact of Theatre in Canada
- Canada’s theatres employ over 30,000 people.
- Canada is home to 500 theatre companies.
- For every dollar in ticket sales, theatre generate $5.94 in economic impact.
- 1 in 4 Canadians attend live theatre performances.
- Over 3,500 Canadian works performed a year.
- Over 20,000 Canadian volunteer their time with theatre.
- 2.3 million Canadians attended theatre performances created for young audiences.
World Theatre Day for Children and Youth (March 20)
Celebrated each year on March 20, ASSITEJ's World Day of Theatre for Children is a campaign promoted and celebrated through the message ‘Take a child to the theatre, today’. focus enables national centres, individual members, companies, arts organizations, academics, teachers, artists, practitioners and others interested in theatre for young audiences to connect with the idea of world day and ‘make the case’ for children’s entitlement to theatre and the arts.