World Theatre Day is celebrated in Porto

Today is open day at São João National Theatre (TNSJ) and the Monastery of São Bento da Vitoria, in Porto, an initiative that marks World Theatre Day, with three free guided tours.

World Theatre Day was first celebrated in 1962 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI). 

It is celebrated annually on the 27th March by ITI Centres and the international theatre community. To mark the occasion, several national and international theatre events are organized worldwide.

At Monastery of São Bento da Vitória, the public is also invited to visit the exhibition Noites Brancas, a crossing through scenic territories and its memories, showcasing stage sets, costumes, videos, photographs and posters.

In the foyer of the TNSJ and in the lobby of the Monastery, there is also a Book Fair devoted to Theatre that runs until Friday, displaying edited and co-edited books by the National Theatre São João in the past years that can be purchased with discounts up to 80 percent.

In the afternoon, teacher and essayist Alexandra Moreira da Silva, prominent researcher in the field of theatre, approaches the limits of theatre with a sold out workshop on playwright and stage director Romeo Castellucci, to be held in the gallery room of the Monastery of São Bento da Vitória.

This day is a celebration of a Culture of Peace, highlighting the significance of the art form "theatre", and acts as a wake-up-call for governments, politicians and society as a whole which have not yet recognised its potential for economic growth and social cohesion.

Thus, the circulation of the World Theatre Day International Message, by a leading personality in the world is one of the most important ways of celebrating Theatre Day.

The author of the first World Theatre Day International Message was Jean Cocteau (France) in 1962. This year's message is written by Isabelle Hupert.