In the first Session the Committee reviewed the activities of the past two years which included three seminars and three board meetings in Iran, Sweden and Bangladesh. The themes were 1n Search of an Audience" (Iran), "International Theatre Communication - For Whom, About What, in What Form, What is Possible" (Sweden) and "Celebrating Diversity" (Bangladesh).
THE WORLD OF THEATRE
The Committee presented "The World of Theatre" 2004 Edition published by the Bangladesh Centre of ITI and the Committee members highly appreciated the work done by Ramendu Majumdar and Mofidul Hoque.
WORLD THEATRE DIRECTORY
The updated version of the World Theatre Directory edited by Nicole Leclercq was discussed and questions were raised about the need to introduce changes in the structure and content so as to make it better if it is to serve as a database. A working group with the following members was formed to work out a strategy for the future:
1. Nicole Leclercq
2. Thomas Engel
3. Ljubisha Nikodinovski Bish
4. Clyde Valentin
WEBSITE
Thomas Engel presented the ComCom web site which is the result of his hard work in collaboration with Agneta Hansson and invited suggestions for improvement of the new site which will be launched shortly.
Suggestions included preparing a French version, designing an attractive home page, inclusion of national messages on World Theatre Day and the published reports written by members of ComCom.
EXHIBITION
An exhibition titied " How Theatre Introduces Itself' displaying theatre magazines and theatre programmes was mounted on 29 May 2004. 20 counthes participated in the exhibition wfth their entries.
FUTURE EVENTS
1. Seminar and Board Meeting Theme: Alternative Theatre Today? On the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of MOT Festival Skopje, Macedonia Sept. / Oct. 2005
2. Seminar and Board Meeting Dhaka, Bangladesh January 2006
POSSIBLE EVENT:
A joint meeting with the European Network of the Performing Arts Paris or Berlin, end of 2004 or beginning of 2005
FUTURE PROJECT
1. A catalogue of publications produced by national ITI Centres as suggested by Prof. Jaak Van Schoor ( Belgium - Fr. Community)
2. The World Of Theatre The Bangladesh Centre will publish the English version of " The World of Theatre" 2006 edition.
Fuad AI-Shatti ( Koweit) offered to print the French version ("Le Monde du Thétre") provided some Centres volunteered to edit and prepare a readyto-print version.
MISCELLANEOUS
Renöé Hainaux (Belgium) asked the assistance of ComCom members in completing the list 10 important books on performing arts nationally.