Odishatv Bureau
Cuttack: This Millennium city is all set to create a unique world record of sorts in the field of theatre and performing art when the 20th edition of Theatre Olympiad will begin here today evening. Organised by 'Utkal Yuva Sanskrutika Sangha' of the city, this mega festival is being held here every year for last 20 years without a break.

"Nowhere in the World does such type of a international drama festival take place every year. But we have been doing it for last 20 years as per the rules prescribed by International Amateur Theatre Association, Estonia," claimed Sangha General Secretary Prof Kartik Rath.

The mega event would continue for 16 days showcasing drama, dance and music competitions till October 11, which would soon be followed by International Theater festival from October 12 to 16, Rath said.

This year nearly 150 cultural groups comprising over 3500 performing artistes, including playwrights, directors, theatre artistes, classical and folk dancers, vocalists, musicians, gurus and critics from around 20 states of the country and ten foreign countries would perform in the Olympiad, which is being held at Saheed Bhawan and Barabati Stadium.

Rath said drama troupes from Armenia, Bangladesh, Croatia, Egypt, Iran, Italy, Nepal, Poland, South Africa and Spain have given their consent to participate in the festival.

During these years about 2000 plays written by more than 1700 playwrights have been performed here by over 64000 artistes from India and abroad. "This is a unique world record in the field of theatre and performing arts," said Rath, himself a playwright.

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