File picture of artistes from Argentina at the International Theatre Festival in Cuttack

Cuttack, Aug. 28: Fifteen countries will take part in the international theatre festival that will be conducted as part of the Indian Theatre Olympiad-2014 here.

The Utkal Yuva Sanskrutik Sangh (UYSS) organises the Olympiad here in September every year. This year will mark the 22nd year of the Theatre Olympiad — a national and international festival of drama, dance and music. Multi-lingual Indian plays in English, Hindi and regional languages will be staged as part of the theatre festival. However, the international festival consisting of groups from several countries is a major attraction.

The Olympiad will start from September 5 and continue till September 20 at Kala Vikas Kendra.

“Around 3,000 performing artistes, including eminent and promising playwrights, directors, theatre artists, classical and folk dancers, vocalists, musicians, gurus and critics from about 20 states and 15 countries, will take part in the 16-day long theatrical extravaganza,” dramatist and UYSS general secretary Kartik Chandra Rath told The Telegraph today.

“Groups from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Croatia, Indonesia, Iran, Egypt, Italy, Mexico, Morocco (North Africa), Nepal, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Ukraine are expected to take part in the Olympiad this year,” Rath said.

More than 100 plays, along with dance performances, will be presented during the national multi-lingual drama festival, which will continue till September 15. The categories of plays to be presented are contemporary, humorous, historical, mythological, ancient, folk, lyrical and musical, experimental, children’s play, mime and pantomime.

“The theatre festival has been taking place for 21 years with increasing number of participating groups. It indicates that the Indian amateur theatre is still pulsating with life,” the UYSS general secretary said.

An all-India classical and folk dance competition and an all-India vocal and instrumental music competition will also be held during this period. Many dancers, vocal and musical artists will present Odissi, Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam, Manipuri and other classical and folk dance recitals in the event.

The International Theatre Festival will start from September 16 and continue till September 20. Last year, groups from 13 countries had taken part in the fest. This year, theatre groups from Mexico, Morocco and New Zealand have evinced interest in taking part in the Olympiad.

Indian Posts had released a special first-day cover-envelope on Indian Theatre Olympiad – 2009. In the past 21 years, around 3,000 plays scripted by more than 1,800 playwrights and about 70,000 amateur artistes and directors belonging to various socio-cultural groups of India and other countries have taken part in the Olympiad, a UYSS spokesperson said.