“L’opera dei pupi” was born in Sicily in the first half of the 19th century and is immediately very successful among the popular classes. The pupi represent stories of medieval and renaissance literature. There are several “schools” in Sicily that represent differently the art of the pupi: Palermo, Catania and Syracuse.
The three schools differ in size and size of the pupi, use of colors in the realization of the backdrops, as well as differences in acting and texts. Theatres are mainly family-owned businesses handed down from generation to generation. Expert family craftsmen dedicated themselves to carving, painting and the manufacture of fine puppets. Puppet performances were represented from evening to evening.
This type of theatre reflects the feeling of belonging of the Sicilians and their awareness of a’common identity. Unfortunately, after the war, this art was abandoned. Technical progress, especially television, has alienated many Sicilians from these performances. Economic difficulties also influenced this traditional form of theatre, since many puppeteers could no longer earn their living with their art. Fortunately, the Pupi theater has survived and still makes young and old dream.
The theatre of pupi born in Via della Giudecca a few steps from Piazza del Duomo is one of the precious pieces of the urban mosaic aretuseo, a place of art and culture that enriches the city and invites the attentive visitor to know one of the many cultural aspects that the island of Ortigia offers. Over the years it has been able to carve out its own space, becoming a place of encounter and cultural exchanges.
Citizenship and travelers visiting our city will have the opportunity to discover in the horticultural labyrinth the small theatre that still today revives the splendours of an ancient and contemporary theatrical form: the pupi theater. Restored according to tradition, The small theatre is presented to the eyes of visitors graceful and comfortable. The comfortable benches equipped with pillows and red drapes of the wings of the room evoke times gone by, when the theatres were crowded with people ready to acclaim the paladins.
For several years, the theatre has organised a theatre season of traditional shows, as well as non-scheduled performances for tour operators and individual groups. To the appointments with the work of the pupi, he alternates performances of actor, music, events and events. Today, as then, the dolls await their spectators behind the scenes, armed with swords and shiny armors to amaze the eyes of bystanders. (Source teatrodeipupisiracusa.it)
