World Theatre Day was created in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI), and is celebrated annually by ITI Centers and the international theatre community, with the reading of a World Theatre Day message and various national and international theatre events being organised to mark this occasion.

It is sponsored by The International Theatre Institute, an international non-governmental organisation that was founded in Prague in 1948 by UNESCO and the international theatre community.

The ITI aims "to promote international exchange of knowledge and practice in theatre arts (drama, dance, music theatre) in order to consolidate peace and solidarity between peoples, to deepen mutual understanding, and increase creative cooperation between all people in the theatre arts".

According to Travis Beard, "World Theatre Day is not about creating a global theatre experience rather it is about celebrating the local theatre experience globally".

Every year International Theatre Institute (ITI) commissions a leading World Theatre figure, a famous theatre artist, a personality well known for his/her good will and intellectual merits is invited to share thoughts on the theme of theatre and peace.

Previous writers include lightweights like Laurence Olivier, Wole Soyinka, Vaclav Havel, Augusto Boal and Peter Brook. This year's message is written by Uganda’s Jessica A Kaahwa.

- Dr N N Prahallada, Associate Professor in Education, Regional Institute of Education (NCERT)