AITA/IATA
Connecting the World Through Amateur Theatre
Amateur Theatres Around the World
Are you an amateur theatre or a community theatre? Pin your theatre on the world map!
If you represent an amateur or community theatre based anywhere in the world, you can put your company on the world map, and let the whole world see where you are.
The International Amateur Theatre Association (AITA/IATA) has created a map to demonstrate how active and broad the amateur theatre scene is around the world.
Pin your company on the map and help us show just how big the global amateur theatre family really is!
Map created by Erik Ramm-Schmidt
Upcoming Events
Member & AITA/IATA events!
Check our events list to learn more about our upcoming events.
Upcoming events include member events or events oganised by AITA/IATA.
Join us and to share your events with everyone in our global network.
Let the World See You!
We are amateur theatre!
Do you have a performance, a workshop, a festival or theatre event coming up? Would you or your group like to host the Weareamateurtheatre Instagram page for one week?
The Instagram page Weareamateurtheatre exists to celebrate and share activities that are happening all over the world through amateur theatre.
The International Amateur Theatre Association (AITA/IATA) has created an Instagram account for amateur theatre companies around the globe to showcase yourselves for a week at a time - let the whole world see what you are doing, share your theatre activities, celebrate amateur theatre and meet other theatre makers.
If you have a big event or a week packed with rehearsals and/or performances coming up, book the Weareamateurtheatre Instagram page for your use and let us meet you and learn a bit about you and how you make theatre.
World Theatre Day 2025
Since 1962 World Theatre Day has been celebrated by theatre organisations, theatre universities and theatre lovers across the globe on 27 March. Last year, Sir Ian McKellen sent all AITA/IATA Members a personal message on World Theatre Day which you can now see in our archive - link below.
In 2025 the President of AITA/IATA has sent a message to all AITA/IATA Members on this auspicious day, which you can read below.
World Theatre Day Message 2025
I recently came across a message that my fellow Welshman and renowned actor Richard Burton, had written to mark World Theatre Day in 1974.
In his message for the International Theatre Institute (ITI), he suggests that the primary role of theatre is to communicate: ‘Theatre is created by those of us in the world who cannot subdue the impulse to say, “Hello”. Burton references the title of William Saroyan’s play: ‘Hello, out there’, and extols the egalitarian aspect of theatre in bringing together all in society: ‘Kings and workers, colonels and shopkeepers, can watch one play together because it talks to all of them – for a little while’.
We in AITA/IATA are all about saying: “Hello” through theatre; and our festivals, gatherings and events are exactly the opportunity for doing so. On gathering for an international festival of amateur theatre and offering an open greeting to audiences and participants from other countries, we bring the cultures of our homes and homelands to share with others. Where “Hello”, is simply the opening invitation to talk, to learn and to understand. An invitation that often extends to, “Come and visit us”; where amateur theatre companies travel to each other’s countries to perform for each other’s audiences and make further conversations and connections.
Richard Burton concluded his message in 1974 with:
‘Throughout the world, whether it is a film for 50 million people, or a play for 50 people, all of the art and craft of theatre is to one purpose: “Hello, out there”.
In AITA/IATA, we are saying: “Hello, out there”.
Happy World Theatre Day!
Aled Rhys-Jones
President
Reach out to AITA/IATA
Contact us today to find out more about our Global Network for Amateur Theatre