Associazione Culturale Compagnia dell'Opera dei Pupi Siciliani

 

The cultural association “COMPAGNIA DELL’OPERA DEI PUPI SICILIANI”, was born in 2000 thanks to Carmelo Cuticchio and includes also important figures, like Pietro Scalisi (maker of sicilian muppets) and Salvatore Bumbello, who followed his father Luciano, operator and maker of pupi.

The main aimof the association is convey to the new gneration this kind of art, that it seemed losen.

For this reason, the association wants to play shows in many countries, places but above all in schools (elementary and middle schools) like in Palermo (ballaro’s place, etc..), Sciacca, Taormina, Capo D’Orlando, Ghibellina, Sant’Agata di Militello, Barrafranca, Montevago, Canicattì, Lascari, Altavilla Milicia, Trappeto, Ficarazzi, Trabia, Valguarnera, Bivona, Rosarno (RC), Potenza etc, with a popular appeal.

The association has produced and rappresented in the occasion of the anniversary of Peppino Impastato’s dead, a beautiful show about the history of the journalist killed by the mafia.   The show, the one in his genre, was rappresented in Cinisi, but also in Bologna, Forlì, Anzola d’Emilia, e Marzabotto.

For the children, the association in realising a show with the history oh Pollicino.The master Carmelo Cuticchi (president of the association) praises on thirty artistic activity and he is one of few sicilia string puppet theatre.

The eldest of five children, Carmelo became soon the pupil of the father Girolamo Cuticchio and he debuts to the theatre when he was only a child. In 1971, he starts to work with the company of the father, around a lot of city of Sicily.

In 1975, he stars to collaborate with the international museum of puppets in palermo and in 1979, in occasion of “The Festival of Morgana” he wins the firstprize like “the best company of puppets”.

During this period, Carmelo and his father represent several show in the U.S.A (Houston, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco), in Mexico, Canada, Columbia and Spain.