Equiflash Archive

Each year, World Theatre Day offers an opportunity to reflect on our art form and what the future might hold for it. Through the long dark of the pandemic, we have held fast, seeking new ways to connect, and waiting for the chance to gather again and make new art. Here in Vancouver, I have been fortunate to witness a reawakening these past couple of months, and I see it happening across the country. Shows are springing up like daffodils, and I have never been more grateful.

This day is so close to the start of spring, and this year, that seems especially fitting. The constant news cycle is harrowing at times, and the world feels like a hard place. But theatre offers a chance to reflect on our world and offer respite, rejuvenation, and a new vision. It brings people together to enjoy the power of storytelling. My hope for this World Theatre Day is that live performance will continue to inspire, celebrate, and regenerate our collective capacity for a deeper humanity and a closer community.

Scott Bellis
Equity Council President

To learn more about how World Theatre Day is celebrated around the globe, visit International Theatre Institute (ITI), World Organization for the Performing Arts.