File picture of a play presented by a group from Iran during Indian Theatre Olympiad in Cuttack in 2012

Cuttack, Sept. 18: The Indian Theatre Olympiad, a fortnight-long festival, will start from September 20 and will continue till October 5 at Kala Vikas Kendra here.

The Utkal Yuva Sanskrutik Sangh organises the theatre Olympiad during September–October every year.

In the first-half of the festival, which starts from September 20 to 30, multi-lingual plays in English, Hindi and regional languages will be showcased. It will also host an international theatre festival, in which there will be plays by groups from more than seven countries.

This year will mark the 21st year of the theatre Olympiad here.

“Around 3,500 performing artistes, including dramatists, actors, playwrights, directors, theatre artists, dancers, choreographers, vocalists and musicians of 150 theatre and dance groups from more than 20 states are expected to take part in at the event this year,” said Kartik Chandra Rath, eminent dramatist and general secretary of the Sangh to The Telegraph.

“More than 100 plays, along with some dance performances, will be presented during the first-half of the multi-lingual drama festival which will continue till September 30. We expect the state tourism and cultural department to extend support as in previous years,” Rath said.

“The multi-lingual drama festival that has continued for 20 consecutive years with increasing number of participating groups is testimony to the fact that Indian amateur theatre is still pulsating with life,” said Murali Nayak, editor of a monthly Odia cine magazine.

During this festival an All-India Classical and Folk Dance Competition and an All-India Vocal and Instrument Music Competition will also be held. A large number of dancers, vocal and musical artistes will take part in it.

“With the theatre Olympiad, Cuttack has become a veritable platform for both the national and international amateur community,” Sahu said.

The International Theatre Festival will start from October 1 and continue till 5. “This year 12 theatre groups from Argentina, Bangladesh, Egypt, Hungary, Iran, Nepal, Russia, Saudi Arab, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan are expected to participate in it,” a spokesperson for Utkal Yuva Sanskrutik Sangh said.