About the Cultural Association “Don Ignazio Puglisi”

The Cultural Association “Don Ignazio Puglisi” was founded in 1992 by the willingness of a group of “Paladini dell'Opra dei Pupi” in Sortino, a town in province of Siracusa, some persons are Don Ignazio Puglisi students’. In fact Don Ignazio Puglisi played its activity of puparo in Sortino from the beginning of 1930 until his death.

From the beginning to now, the journey has been long and tiring, but crowned with many stages and satisfactions.

Other friends followed the artistic experience undertaken by the founders of the company, which has aroused the interest of many "followers", including, above all, children of the founders, with the greatest pride in the latter.

The company consists of 20 elements with a range of age from 15 to 60, mixed between men and women. They have a long experience in their activities and they always go around many countries in Italy, Belgium, Australia, Suisse, Canada and so on.

UNESCO has designated Sicilian Puppet Theatre as part of humanity's "oral and intangible heritage" and has devised a plan to save it from extinction.

The subject matter of the Opera dei Pupi is derived from various periods of Sicilian history, works of literature, folklore and comedy. Performances that pit the Norman knights against the Saracens are taken from Sicily's turbulent history, with various liberties taken for the sake of art. Much has been adopted from the lyric poetry of the Troubadours and the epic tales of chivalry known as the Chansons de Geste (the songs of deeds).

The performances that include Orlando and Carlo Magno are derived from the famous Song of Roland (Chanson de Roland) and the subsequent Italian interpretations such as Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto. The Opera dei Pupi also covers subjects from classical Greece and Rome such as Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. Religious and Biblical performances can include tales from the Old Testament, including the tale of the Exodus.