Cuttack, June 29: The city is all set to host the India Theatre Olympiad 2015 from July 1.

Fifteen countries will participate in the international theatre fest that will be conducted as part of the 23rd edition of theatre Olympiad.

The Olympiad is organised by the Utkal Yuva Sanskrutik Sangh (UYSS) in Cuttack every year.

The dates for the Olympiad were brought forward from September to July.

"We decided to conduct it in the first fortnight of July, before the Nabakalebar of Lord Jagannath (which will culminate on July 17 and rath yatra on the next day), hoping to get more attention from the tourists who are expected to visit the festival in large numbers," dramatist and UYSS general secretary Kartik Rath told The Telegraph today.

The Olympiad will begin on Wednesday and will continue till July 12 at the Kala Vikas Kendra.

"On the opening day, groups from the United Kingdom and Bangladesh will jointly perform an English play titled Jamuna. It will be followed by a folk dance from Mizoram." Rath said.

Around 2,500 artistes, including eminent and promising playwrights, directors, classical and folk dancers, vocalists, musicians and critics from about 20 states of India along with 15 countries will participate in the 12-day long theatrical extravaganza.

"Groups from Russia, United Kingdom, Finland, Romania, Italy, Mexico, Algeria, Sierra Leone, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Iran, UAE, Bahrain, Bangladesh and Nepal will take part in the theatre Olympiad this year", Rath said.

More than a hundred plays, along with dance performances will be presented simultaneously during the international theatre and national multilingual drama festival. <>The categories of plays to be presented are contemporary, humorous, historical, mythological, ancient, folk, lyrical, experimental, children's play, mime and pantomime.

An all-India classical and folk dance competition and an all-India vocal and instrumental music competition will also be held. Dancers will present Odissi, Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, Manipuri and other classical and folk dance recitals at the event.