For centuries, theatre has been an essential component of human culture, captivating and motivating audiences with its compelling storytelling and artistic expression. Every year on March 27th, World Theatre Day commemorates this diverse and vibrant art form. To honor this occasion, theatre aficionados from around the world gather to celebrate and expand their knowledge of theatre through a range of events and activities. One such activity is the World Theatre Day quiz, which assesses participants’ familiarity with theatre history, notable figures in the industry, and well-known plays.
World Theatre Day Quiz: Theme
The International Theatre Institute has designated “Theatre and a Culture of Peace” as the theme for World Theatre Day 2023, which is a consistent theme each year. The chosen theme underscores theatre’s capacity to bring cultures together and foster peace.
Additionally, theatre serves as a powerful medium for individuals to recognize and appreciate the nuances of diverse cultures across the globe. Furthermore, every year, a distinguished guest delivers a message related to the World Theatre Day theme.
World Theatre Day Quiz: When Was It First Celebrated?
In 1962, the International Theatre Institute (ITI), a UNESCO-associated non-governmental organisation focused on promoting international exchange and collaboration in the performing arts, established the inaugural celebration of World Theatre Day. March 27th was chosen as the date to commemorate the opening of the Théâtre des Nations in Paris on the same day in 1962. The first World Theatre Day featured a range of events and activities, such as performances, lectures, and exhibitions, organised by ITI Centers and theatre organisations worldwide. Over time, this celebration has evolved into a global phenomenon that emphasises theatre’s significance as a powerful means of artistic expression and social commentary.
World Theatre Day Quiz: Significance
World Theatre Day carries significant meaning in numerous ways. Firstly, it is a momentous occasion to commemorate the performing arts and their invaluable contribution to human culture. Theatre is a formidable medium of expression that can evoke intense emotions, challenge societal conventions, and facilitate dialogues that foster comprehension and empathy. World Theatre Day provides an ideal opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the artists, producers, directors, and technicians who create and support theatre across the world.
Secondly, World Theatre Day stimulates global exchange and cooperation in the performing arts. The celebration encourages theatre professionals to connect, exchange their experiences and ideas, promote cultural understanding, and foster a sense of unity in diversity.
Lastly, World Theatre Day serves as a platform to bring attention to the challenges encountered by the theatre industry. These challenges include funding cuts, censorship, and discrimination, which can jeopardise theatre’s vitality as an art form. By raising awareness about these challenges, World Theatre Day strives to promote advocacy and support for the theatre industry, ensuring its sustained growth and development.
Overall, World Theatre Day holds immense significance in recognizing the power and importance of theatre in our lives, and promoting its continued evolution and relevance in society.
World Theatre Day Quiz
To mark this occasion, we have prepared a World Theatre Day quiz that will challenge your knowledge of theatre history, famous plays, and notable figures in the industry. The quiz consists of 15 multiple-choice questions, with the correct answer provided after each question. So, let’s put your theatre knowledge to the test!
- Who wrote the play “Hamlet”?
- A) William Shakespeare
- B) Samuel Beckett
- C) Henrik Ibsen
- D) Oscar Wilde
Correct Answer – A) William Shakespeare
- What is the name of the longest-running Broadway musical of all time?
- A) The Phantom of the Opera
- B) Cats
- C) Les Misérables
- D) Chicago
Correct Answer – A) The Phantom of the Opera
- Who directed the stage musical “Hamilton”?
- A) Lin-Manuel Miranda
- B) Andrew Lloyd Webber
- C) Stephen Sondheim
- D) Jason Robert Brown
Correct Answer – A) Lin-Manuel Miranda
- Which of the following is not a play by Tennessee Williams?
- A) A Streetcar Named Desire
- B) Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
- C) The Glass Menagerie
- D) The Crucible
Correct Answer – D) The Crucible
- Who wrote the play “The Importance of Being Earnest”?
- A) Oscar Wilde
- B) George Bernard Shaw
- C) Harold Pinter
- D) Tom Stoppard
Correct Answer – A) Oscar Wilde
- What is the name of the theatre district in London’s West End?
- A) Broadway
- B) Covent Garden
- C) Piccadilly Circus
- D) The West End
Correct Answer – D) The West End
- Who is the patron saint of actors?
- A) Saint Anthony
- B) Saint Jude
- C) Saint Genesius
- D) Saint Michael
Correct Answer – C) Saint Genesius
- Which famous playwright is known for his “Theatre of the Absurd” style?
- A) Samuel Beckett
- B) Eugene O’Neill
- C) Arthur Miller
- D) August Wilson
Correct Answer – A) Samuel Beckett
- Who wrote the play “Death of a Salesman”?
- A) Arthur Miller
- B) Tennessee Williams
- C) Edward Albee
- D) Eugene O’Neill
Correct Answer – A) Arthur Miller
- Which of the following is a musical by Stephen Sondheim?
- A) Les Misérables
- B) Phantom of the Opera
- C) Into the Woods
- D) Rent
Correct Answer – C) Into the Woods
- Who wrote the play “The Cherry Orchard”?
- A) Anton Chekhov
- B) Nikolai Gogol
- C) Leo Tolstoy
- D) Fyodor Dostoevsky
Correct Answer – A) Anton Chekhov
- What is the name of the longest-running play in London’s West End?
- A) The Mousetrap
- B) Cats
- C) Les Misérables
- D) Phantom of the Opera
Correct Answer – A) The Mousetrap
- Who played the original Elphaba in the Broadway musical “Wicked”?
- A) Kristin Chenoweth
- B) Idina Menzel
- C) Lea Michele
- D) Sutton Foster
Correct Answer – B) Idina Menzel
- Which of the following is not a Greek playwright?
- A) Aeschylus
- B) Sophocles
- C) Euripides
- D) Aristophanes
Correct Answer – D) Aristophanes
- Who wrote the play “Fences”?
- A) August Wilson
- B) Lorraine Hansberry
- C) Suzan-Lori Parks
- D) Tony Kushner
Correct Answer – A) August Wilson
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World Theatre Day Quiz: FAQs
World Theatre Day is an annual celebration of theatre observed on March 27th.
World Theatre Day promotes theatre as an art form that fosters creativity, diversity, and inclusivity.
World Theatre Day was first celebrated in 1962.
World Theatre Day is celebrated through various events, performances, and activities organised by theatre companies and organisations.
You can support your local theatre community by attending performances, making donations, and promoting their work on social media.