Event Report: Echoes of Sicily, An Opera dei Pupi Demonstration by Giacomo Cuticchio

Echoes of Sicily: An Opera dei Pupi Demonstration by Giacomo Cuticchio

Together with the Italian Cultural Institute in Edinburgh, Dr Enza De Francisci co-convened the event, ‘Echoes of Sicily: An Opera dei Pupi Demonstration by Giacomo Cuticchio’, at the Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre. On Tuesday 8th October 2024, Giacomo Cuticchio and his Opera dei pupi theatre company, L’Associazione Figli dArte Cuticchio, took audiences back to the enchanting world of Opera dei Pupi, a traditional Sicilian puppet theatre that has captivated audiences since the 18th century and has been declared by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Through the use of a variety of puppets, backdrops, stage props, and a video projection, Giacomo Cuticchio paid tribute to the ancient family craft, performing a demonstration showcasing specific movements and acting techniques. Audiences engaged with the puppeteer who shared anecdotes and stories from his personal experience, and he responded to questions from the audience in a conversation with Dr Enza De Francisci, translated by Valentina Cralli (PhD Student from the University of Glasgow) and assisted by Dr Stefania Taviano (University of Messina). The puppeteers played to a full house (50 members of the audience) and the event ended with a reception at the Puppet Centre. The event was generously funded by the University of Glasgow, the Italian Cultural Institute (Edinburgh), the Mazzini Garibaldi Charitable Foundation, the Society for Italian Studies, Italian Scotland, and Comites Scotland and Northern Ireland.