World Theatre Day March 27th

Theatre has been part of life since Sophoclean times and life without theatre proved to be only incomplete, dark and unbearable when playwrights were banned to produce works for the theatre. Words put into the characters mouths, action, music, lighting, costumes and stage designs help us to be involved in the lives created, even tailored for about two hours, yet we know too well for a lifetime.

On March 27^th, theatergoers will see 27 plays free of charge. Ankara State Theatre announces that tickets can be taken from the ticket box offices starting from March 14^th.  At Ankara Big Theatre Kerbela, written by Ali Berktay and directed by Ayşe Emel Mesçi is staged.  At Şinasi Theatre Kırmızı (Red), a play by John Logan, translated by  Eray Eserol and directed by  İskender Altın can be seen. At Small Theatre  Moliere’s play George Dandin, which is translated by Sema Kuray and directed by Philip Boulay is staged. At Akün Stage Fosforlu Cevriye, a musical performance, written by Suat Derviş, adapted and directed by  Gülriz Sururi can be seen. At  Altındağ Theatre Hatice Meryem’s play Sinek Kadar Kocam Olsun Başımda Bulunsun, which is edited and directed by Funda Mete is staged. At Stüdyo Stage Bir Delinin Hatıra Defteri (Diary of a Madman), a short story by Nikolai Gogol, which is adapted by Sylvie Luneau and Roger Coggio, translated by Coşkun Tunçtan and directed by Cem Emüler can be seen. At  Oda Theatre Yosunlar written  by  Şahin Ergel and directed by Murat Çıdamlı is staged. At  Çayyolu Cüneyt Gökçer Theatre Aristophanes’ Barış (Peace)  which is adapted and directed by Yücel Erten can be seen. 

On the other side of the world, in the States, Theatre Communications Group (TCG), home of the U.S. Center of the International Theatre Institute (ITI-US), will commemorate the 50th anniversary of World Theatre Day with a special message to be delivered by actor John Malkovich. Malkovich, an Emmy-winner and double Oscar nominee, is the fourth U.S. artist to be selected to write the UNESCO address, after Edward Albee, the late Arthur Miller and Ellen Stewart.

 

On March 22, 2012, John Malkovich delivered his international message at UNESCO in Paris at a gala event that included readings of play excerpts with Malkovich and other theatre artists. Here is Malkovich’s introductory remarks that reveal his amazement upon being asked to give a speech this year on the World Theatre Day:

I'm honored to have been asked by the International Theatre Institute ITI at UNESCO to give this greeting commemorating the 50th anniversary of World Theatre Day. I will address my brief remarks to my fellow theatre workers, peers and comrades.

May your work be compelling and original. May it be profound, touching, contemplative, and unique. May it help us to reflect on the question of what it means to be human, and may that reflection be blessed with heart, sincerity, candor, and grace. May you overcome adversity, censorship, poverty and nihilism, as many of you will most certainly be obliged to do. May you be blessed with the talent and rigor to teach us about the beating of the human heart in all its complexity, and the humility and curiosity to make it your life's work. And may the best of you - for it will only be the best of you, and even then only in the rarest and briefest moments - succeed in framing that most basic of questions, "how do we live?" Godspeed.

- John Malkovich