An insight into global theatre
International Theatre Institute (ITI) World Congress
Cultural Correspondent
The 30th World Congress of. the International Theatre Institute (ITI) was held recently in the city of Tampico, Mexico. The function was held at the initiative of the ITI executive council.The city of Tampico was particularly chosen for the World Congress to acquaint participant theatre activists with the newly built Theatre Complex of the city. This year 300 delegates from 62 countries participated in the ITI meet. The President of ITI, Bangladesh, Ramendu Majumdar and Organising Secretary Nasiruddin Yousuff were the delegates from Bangladesh. Expressing his feelings about the Congress, Majumdar said, 'Apart from being introduced to the theatre activists from all over the world, we can gain knowledge about the theatre of different countries and receive many inputs for our theatre practice.' The 30th World Congress reviewed the activities of last two years and planned the work schedule for the next two years. Four seminars were held in the Congress. Yousuff from Bangladesh presented a paper entitled Myths and the Rituals: challenges for contemporary creation. Besides the seminar, a Theatre Festival was a major draw. A number of Mexican theatre groups were the only performers at the festival. Everyday, several plays were staged simultaneously at different places. While discussing with the theatre specialists of different countries, Ramendu Majumdar said that our country's dedication to theatre has overwhelmed counterparts from the rest of the world. The latter have been highly appreciative of the eight publications about world theatre brought about by ITI Bangladesh. Another notable activity of the Congress in the city of Tampico was the 'World Festival of Theatre School'. Theatre schools from Mexico, Peru, Rumania, France, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Greece and Iran took part in this festival. Apart from all these activities, an exhibition of theatre magazines was also held. Adding a note of regret, Majumdar said,' We should take a cue from the government patronage that other countries extend to theatre. If our government had patronised the theatre to a greater degree, Bangladesh would have been farther ahead.' Mofidul Huq, Liaquat Ali Lucky, Sara Zaker and Professor Shafi Ahmed have been re-elected in their respective posts.
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