Photo credits: Theatre Princess Grace Monaco Instagram.
On March 27, 2025, the world turned its gaze to the stage, celebrating World Theatre Day—a luminous thread in the tapestry of human expression. In Monaco, a principality where the Mediterranean whispers tales of beauty and grace, this day blossomed as a tribute to theatre’s timeless gift: the continuation of humanity, life breathed anew through every performance. Here, amid the elegance of Monte Carlo, the arts shimmer like the sea at dusk, reflecting our shared story.
Born in 1961 under the aegis of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), World Theatre Day took its first bow on March 27, 1962, with a message from Jean Cocteau, who saw the stage as a bridge across cultures. Conceived during the ITI’s 9th World Congress in Vienna and nurtured by UNESCO’s vision of peace through art, this annual celebration invites us to witness theatre not as mere spectacle, but as a living pulse of our collective soul. It is humanity’s echo—laughter, sorrow, and hope—given form by actors who carry life forward, step by step, under the spotlight.
In Monaco, this reverence for the stage finds a natural home. The Princess Grace Theatre, nestled in the heart of Monte Carlo, stands as a beacon of this legacy. Named for Princess Grace, the Hollywood star who traded silver screens for a princely crown in 1956, it embodies her devotion to the arts. Managed by the Société des Bains de Mer, this intimate venue has long welcomed performers to its boards, its history interwoven with Monaco’s cultural fabric.
Photo credits: Grace De Monaco.
Photo credits: Grace De Monaco.
Photo credits: Grace De Monaco. Grace Kelly and Edmond O'Brien.
The Principality’s theatrical roots stretch deeper still, to “Le Studio de Monaco,” founded in 1939 by René Blum and later championed by Princess Grace. This company has cradled generations of talent, its performances a mirror to Monaco’s soul—small in scale, vast in spirit. On World Theatre Day, such institutions remind us that acting is not a departure from life, but its continuation: a space where humanity unfurls, raw and radiant, for all to see. The Monegasque National Commission for UNESCO, too, stands as a quiet partner, aligning Monaco’s efforts with the ITI’s dream of a world united by art.
Each year, World Theatre Day is graced by a message from a luminary of the stage—past voices like Dario Fo or Isabelle Huppert have stirred hearts worldwide. The stage is a canvas for life itself—actors stepping into roles not to escape, but to reveal the truths we carry within.
Photo credits: Isabelle Huppert Instagram.
Photo credits: Wikipedia. Dario Fo.
As an actress and storyteller, I find in theatre a sacred thread binding us to one another. On March 27, 2025, Monaco undoubtedly joined the global chorus, its stages alive with the breath of humanity. In a land where opulence meets artistry, World Theatre Day was not just a celebration—it was a testament to life’s persistence, played out in the flicker of footlights. From the Princess Grace Theatre to the humblest rehearsal room, Monaco honored the stage as a mirror, a memory, and a promise: that as long as we act, we live.