The curtain rises on July 4th in Gambettola, inauguration of the 26th edition of the Burattini e Figure festival which in the months of July, August and September will touch 13 locations in the provinces of Forli-Cesena and Ravenna, with 26 shows by professional companies recognized by the Mic and the respective regional institutions of Piedmont, Lombardy, Tuscany, Abruzzo, Puglia, Sicily.
The festival, with free admission, has the particularity of uniting different entertainment needs, due both to the places (squares, gardens, churchyards, parks) and the themes (Urban Reuse, inclusiveness, fragility) in a large unitary summer event; a program with multiple perspectives that welcomes some of the best national and international puppet theater companies with a diversity of genres and languages: from classic puppets to string marionettes, from narrative shows to Contemporary Figure Theater, street theater and juggling.
To frame the shows, the choice of locations takes into account the architectural, landscape and environmental characteristics of the various places, with the aim of enhancing the territories with a view to cultural, social and tourist development. A widespread project that unites small towns with provincial capitals
So from 4 July to 5 September, twenty-six productions will liven up the most fascinating places in Romagna, in a quality traveling festival of puppet theater between villages and hamlets, between sea and hills, to the delight of the whole family and a traveling public who, calendar in hand, will be able to follow the heroes of the theater in their comical and tragic adventures.
Burattini e Figure is a live performance project by Teatro del Drago/Famiglia d’Arte Monticelli, in collaboration and with the contribution of the host Municipalities, the Emilia Romagna Region and the MIC.
Among the collateral activities of summer 2024 is the BURATTIAMO project, born in 2023 in collaboration with the Municipality of Longiano and presented within the Longiano dei Presepi (December 23). A playful introduction to the world of creative recycling aimed at new generations. A small event inspired by the artistic practice of Ready Made to involve the public in an active and participatory dimension: at each show there will be an information point for the collection of small disused objects (max H 20 cm) which will be grouped together and become material laboratory in the autumn period in the municipalities participating in the project.
After July 4th we continue to San Mauro Pascoli, Gatteo mare, Castiglione di Ravenna, Santerno, Ravenna, Borghi, Marina di Ravenna, Pilastro, Savignano sul Rubicone, Longiano, Montiano and Piangipane.
Among the guest companies: Little Theatre of the Id, The puppets of the Comedy, Vladimiro Strinati Company, Pupi di Stac, Compagnia Barbariccia, Granteatrino Casa di Pulcinella, All’InCirco Teatro, Teatro del Drago/Famiglia d’Arte Monticelli, Abruzzo Tucur/The guardians of the goose, Wooden heads for the world, Mattia’s puppets, Aldrighi puppets , Marco Grilli, Baraca and Boratì, The fairy tale shop, La Ninni.
The event is part of Burattininrete ER, the first Emilia Romagna summer puppet theater network which brings together in a single program over 100 shows from four provinces (Modena and Reggio Emilia, in addition to the aforementioned), founding members: Associazione 5T, I Burattini della Comedy and Dragon Theatre.
Burattini e Figure is sponsored by UNIMA (International Puppet Union) and ATF (Association of Puppet Theatres).
The complete program of the event is available on the website www.teatrodeldrago.it, on the website of the individual municipalities and on the Facebook page burattiniefigure.
Contacts: Teatro del Drago 392 6664211- [email protected]
The calendar
Piazza Aldo Moro in Gambettola will inaugurate the event, with the show The Castle of Frights by the Vladimiro Strinati Company (Thursday 4 July), freely inspired by old scripts and played on the oldest dramaturgical mechanisms of the theatre, with Fagiolino and Sganapino as protagonists. The other two events will be on Thursday 11 July (Little Red Riding Hood, Pupi di Stac), in Piazza Togliatti and Thursday 18 July at the Ravaldini Social Centre, L’acqua miracosa of the I Burattini della Commedia company.
The Garden of Casa Pascoli, in San Mauro Pascoli, will host three events: The great triumph of Fagiolino shepherd and warrior by the Teatro del Drago/Famiglia d’Arte Monticelli company (Monday 8 July), a historic production by the Ravenna-based group that has had great success in Italy and abroad, receiving awards and mentions in some of the most important national and international festivals; La Route by the soloist La Ninni, a young Sicilian artist and acrobat, a clowning and juggling show (Monday 15 July) and Storie di Arlecchino by the Barbariccia Company (22 July), a traditional puppet show.
Two events in Piazza della Libertà in Gatteo Mare: the Ecomonsters Puppet Show show of puppets, string marionettes, robotics and actors, produced by All’InCirco Teatro (Tuesday 9 July) and the traditional Piedmontese puppet show Gianduja and the King’s crown by the Marionette Grilli company. (Tuesday 27 August).
The collaboration with CittAttiva will be the glue for the event on Thursday 18th July which will feature the Teatro del Drago at the Speyer Gardens in Ravenna, along the station avenue, with the show of traditional puppets, the company’s flagship, The Abduction of the Prince Charles.
The Ravenna area will be the stage for six events which, in partnership with the Municipality of Ravenna, will be held in Castiglione di Ravenna, Santerno, Pilastro, Marina di Ravenna and Piangipane.
The beautiful setting of Palazzo Grossi will host the Teatro del Drago on Thursday 11 July with the show Il rapimento del Principe Carlo; the same company will be the protagonist of the event on Friday 12 July in Santerno, on Tuesday 30 July in Pilastro and on Friday 9 August in Marina di Ravenna, which will also host the show La capra ballerina by the Apulian company Granteatrino Casa di Pulcinella (Saturday 20 July).
Piangipane will instead host the Bolognese company Teatrino dell’Es with the show Il manifesto dei burattini (Thursday 5 September).
Four evenings will take place in the territorial area of the Municipality of Longiano: Robin Hood of the Abruzzo Tucur company / The guardians of the goose (Monday 5 August Piazza Tre Martiri); Puss in Boots (Monday 12 August, Rio Parco di Budrio) by the Florentine company Pupi di Stac; Truciolo and the rocking horse (Monday 19 August, Crocetta di Longiano) by Wooden heads for the world and finally Pu-pazzi d’amore (Monday 26 August, Ponte Ospedaletto) by All’InCirco Teatro.
The Arena Gregorini will be the stage for three summer events: Ecomonsters Puppet Show (All’InCirco Teatro – Thursday 1 August), Fagiolino e il terribile cavaliere sbragafegati by the talented puppeteer Mattia Zecchi (22 August), while the traditional Venetian mask of Meneghino will be the protagonist of the show Ridi Meneghino by the young company I burattini Aldrighi (29 August).
In Borghi, instead, the Grantetrino Casa di Pulcinella company will be guests with the production La capra ballerina (Friday 19 July) and the Baraca&Boratì company with Gioppino a Venezia in cerca di fortuna (Friday 2 August).
Finally, the municipality of Montiano will host two events: in the new location of the Parco I Ciliegi of Case Francisconi the show Fagiolino, Sandrone and the midnight challenge of the company La bottega delle favole will be held (28 August), while La Ninni will be hosted by the Piazza Castello of Montenovo di Montiano with the show La Route (4 September).
