Mumbai, March 27: From the year 1962, World Theatre Day has been celebrated by International Theatre Institute- ITI Centres, ITI Cooperating Members, theatre professionals, theatre organizations, theatre universities and theatre lovers all over the world on the 27th of March.  According to the institute, "this day is a celebration for those who can see the value and importance of the art form “theatre”, and acts as a wake-up-call for governments, politicians and institutions which have not yet recognised its value to the people and to the individual and have not yet realised its potential for economic growth."

Theatre is more than just applying make-up and putting up a show. Theatre is a way of life. Ask any actor and he will tell you that theatre is his first love, theatre is where the artist takes first step in the field of his craft. It is also a much more democratic medium than cinema, and though it's reach may be limited as compared to the medium of cinema, the fact is that it's also a more intimate feeling for both the performer and audience to have experienced a play. Here are some of the best quotes on Theatre by artist and writers:

“All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”

― William Shakespeare, As You Like It

1. "The word theatre comes from the Greeks. It means the seeing place. It is the place people come to see the truth about life and the social situation"-  Stella Adler

2. "I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being."- Thornton Wilder

3. "It's communication - that's what theatre is all about"- Chita Rivera

4. "With theatre, you have to be ready for anything"- Willem Dafoe

5. "Theatre is immediate gratification"- Chita Rivera

6. "A theatre is the most important sort of house in the world because that's where people are shown what they could be if they wanted and what they'd like to be if they dared to and what they really are"- Tove Jansson

7. "I love theatre, and you learn too much as an actor and enjoy too much of it not to want to go back a lot."- Benedict Cumberbatch

8. "Make them laugh, make them cry, and hack to laughter. What do people go to the theatre for? An emotional exercise. I am a servant of the people. I have never forgotten that"- Mary Pickford

9. "Film is a much lonelier process than theatre. You really don't have any rehearsal time in film. You don't shape it together... with theatre, there is a complete kind of family atmosphere. The sociable side of this business is the theatrical side, it really isn't the film side. "- Keira Knightley

10. "I feel like I've been marinated in Australian theatre."- Cate Blanchett

11. "I don't profess to have music as my big wheel and there are a number of other things as important to me apart from music. Theatre and mime, for instance"- David Bowie

12. "I spent two years in the military service, then I trudged around in repertory for quite a while. I somehow wound up at the National Theatre, though, and then I was definitely on my way."- Anthony Hopkins

13. "I want to do theatre. I love theatre."- Heath Ledger

14. “The finest definition of theatre that I have come across is ‘one actor-one audience'.”- Naseeruddin Shah

15. "I believe that in a great city, or even in a small city or a village, a great theater is the outward and visible sign of an inward and probable culture. "-Laurence Olivier

16. "I guess I've been extremely keen on theatre, on getting on to the stage, taking on different roles, enacting vocations, personalities, people, situations, and I guess that's the interest that has driven me to work in movies"- Amitabh Bachchan

17. "Theatre is relatively easy if you're British - you're living in the theatre capital of the world, London - there are so many places you can work, still. If I had begun to think of myself as a film actor, I think I would have got distracted."- Ian Mckellen

18. "Theatre is immediate, it's alive, you're there with the audience, it can't be done again and again and again and again, it's organic."- Kim Cattrall

19. "In the theatre you can change things ever so slightly; it's an organic thing. Whereas in film you only have that chance on the day, and you have no control over it at all. "-Judi Dench

20. "And although I've been very fortunate in the film work that's come my way, I need to get back to the stage. If I'm away for a maximum of two years, I feel something's wrong."- Ralph Fiennes

Theatre is a place of learning for any actor, director, writer and even the audiences. The art of theatre is an ancient one and almost every culture has its own theatre tradition and culture. Theatre has the power to transform and makes us look at our own follies. From Shakespeare to Henry Ibsen, from Bharat Muni to Mohan Rakesh and all the artists who have contributed to and continue to contribute to theatre, they have made the world a bearable if not a better place. Happy Theatre Day 2018.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 27, 2018 12:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).