Opera dei Pupi is a form of traditional marionette theater that originated in Sicily. Those performing it used large handcrafted puppets to enact stories from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. They would combine romantic tales with grand adventures. Between the second half of the nineteenth century and the early 20th century, they were particularly popular in Sicily. The characters in this performance are primarily knights with elaborate armor and articulated limbs that let them perform intricate movements like jumping on a horse or drawing a sword. Further characters, including kings, ladies, and civilians, as well as various animals and supernatural creatures, are also included. Dialogues in this performance were largely improvised by the puppeteers.
Sicily's puppet theatre has been documented as far back as the fourth century B.C.E., yet the first documented use of the term Opera dei Pupi was in the early 1800s. It became popular during this century due to the original nature of the long plays cyclical events presented in nightly installments to a familiar audience. Competition from television and more affordable movies in the early 1950s negatively affected the tradition. In the 1970s and 1980s, few companies continued to perform, and many companies had trouble keeping their puppets. To reach contemporary audiences of tourists and schoolchildren, performances have been cut into shorter, independent episodes which emphasize rapid action and dramatic moments.
While this tradition was once more widespread, nowadays, it exists in two distinct practices in Catania and Palermo. They are distinguished from one another primarily by the size and shape of the puppets and the operating methods that were used, and the variety of colorful backdrops. These theatres are often operated by families; they are renowned for their intense expressions, which are carved, painted, and constructed with traditional methods. These puppeteers constantly attempted to outdo each other, and they had a significant effect on their audiences. Traditionally these performances were held for several evenings and provided opportunities for social gatherings among the people.
The extraordinary economic boom of the 1950s caused social and economic upheaval. This threatens the very foundations of the tradition. Similar forms of theatre in other parts of Italy disappeared at that time, some of which were revived some decades later. The only example of an uninterrupted tradition of this kind of theatre is the Opera dei Pupi. Economic difficulties have led to puppeteers no longer being able to make a living from their craft, so they turn to more lucrative professions. A consequence of tourism has also reduced the quality of performance, which was originally aimed at a local audience only. For many early theatre audiences, puppets represented hope, victory, as well as a variety of other values and emotions. Audience members admired and supported their heroes while despising the villains. Accordingly, Opera dei Pupi became a vehicle for the working class to express their cultural identity, commemorate their history, and commemorate their heritage.
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