The Sicilian puppet The Sicilian puppet theatretheatre

The PuppetsThe Puppets

The Sicilian puppets, born in the mid nineteenth century, The Sicilian puppets, born in the mid nineteenth century, are a particular type of puppet. Differently from the Italian are a particular type of puppet. Differently from the Italian ones made of wood and fabric they have a metal armour ones made of wood and fabric they have a metal armour enriched with carvings, arabesques and embossings and enriched with carvings, arabesques and embossings and the wire, which commanded the right hand of the puppet the wire, which commanded the right hand of the puppet was replaced by an iron rod, so that the puppeter could was replaced by an iron rod, so that the puppeter could make the marionette do more precise actions how to make the marionette do more precise actions how to extract and put the sword back, hugging a woman, beat its extract and put the sword back, hugging a woman, beat its chest or forehead with his fist, and lower the visor of the chest or forehead with his fist, and lower the visor of the helmet; simultaneously clothes, coats and skirts were helmet; simultaneously clothes, coats and skirts were sewn with more and more beautiful and precious fabrics.sewn with more and more beautiful and precious fabrics.

In Sicily, the puppet In Sicily, the puppet theatre takes on a theatre takes on a unique unique characterization, both characterization, both for the content and for the content and for the technique, for the technique, which is called "the which is called "the puppet theatre." The puppet theatre." The repertoire, usually in repertoire, usually in Sicilian dialect, refers Sicilian dialect, refers primarily to the primarily to the events of Orlando and events of Orlando and the paladins of the paladins of France.France.

For centuries the Sicilian For centuries the Sicilian puppets, cleverly animated puppets, cleverly animated by generations of by generations of "puppeters", have been the "puppeters", have been the only source of education and only source of education and one of the few opportunities one of the few opportunities for entertainment and fun for entertainment and fun for the lower classes,but for the lower classes,but they were also appreciated they were also appreciated by the middle class. by the middle class. It has It has expressed the Sicilians’  expressed the Sicilians’  ideology for decades: the ideology for decades: the audience listened passionately audience listened passionately to the stories of chivalrous to the stories of chivalrous cycles, of bandits, of saints, of cycles, of bandits, of saints, of Shakespearean plots, finding Shakespearean plots, finding there the hopes, the struggles, there the hopes, the struggles, the victories, the defeats of the victories, the defeats of existence. Every evening people existence. Every evening people watched the performance of a watched the performance of a new episode of the cycle.new episode of the cycle.

Historically the puppet theatre, as we know it Historically the puppet theatre, as we know it today ,was created as a representation of the today ,was created as a representation of the clashes between the medieval knights and the clashes between the medieval knights and the Moors, around the second half of 1800, when the Moors, around the second half of 1800, when the chivalrous marionettes, from which the puppets chivalrous marionettes, from which the puppets derive found popularity and began to interpret derive found popularity and began to interpret the feelings and aspirations of justice of a social the feelings and aspirations of justice of a social class.class.

The spread of this form of artistic The spread of this form of artistic expression, was favoured mainly expression, was favoured mainly by the "Storyteller" and by the "Storyteller" and "cuntastorie". The former, an "cuntastorie". The former, an itinerant artist, deals with the itinerant artist, deals with the epic theme through singing, epic theme through singing, acting and mime, while the acting and mime, while the "cuntastorie" performs the same "cuntastorie" performs the same themes through the declamation, themes through the declamation, being a narrator who does not being a narrator who does not use any musical instrument, but use any musical instrument, but uses to modulate his voice with a uses to modulate his voice with a particular technique, passed particular technique, passed down from generation to down from generation to generation. generation.

Through the Puppet theatre high Through the Puppet theatre high codes of conduct like chivalry and codes of conduct like chivalry and honour, the fight for justice and honour, the fight for justice and faith were transmitted, but also faith were transmitted, but also love affairs and the craving to love affairs and the craving to excel were present. This excel were present. This theatrical form, despite its theatrical form, despite its simplicity, has allowed in a simplicity, has allowed in a certain sense, the spreading of certain sense, the spreading of the epic.the epic.

Recently the Unesco has declared the Puppet Recently the Unesco has declared the Puppet Theatre masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage Theatre masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.of Humanity.

Today a few puppeteers are trying to keep the Today a few puppeteers are trying to keep the tradition alive, offering some shows for tourists or in tradition alive, offering some shows for tourists or in real theatrical exhibition, among which Mimmo real theatrical exhibition, among which Mimmo Cuticchio's company is among the most well known Cuticchio's company is among the most well known in Palermo for its extraordinary skill in the acting of in Palermo for its extraordinary skill in the acting of the “cunto” (tale), on the rhytm of hits of sword.the “cunto” (tale), on the rhytm of hits of sword.

Cuticchio’s theatreCuticchio’s theatre

Mancuso’s theatreMancuso’s theatre