Living in the present – Report of the International Puppet Theater Festival Titirimundi of Segovia.

“Sur le point d’imprimer le programme, alors que tout était prêt, l’état d’alerte nous a obligés à stopper nos vies personnelles et professionnelles. La prudence s’est imposée, étant donné que le festival a habituellement lieu en mai à Ségovie et s’exporte dans différentes villes espagnoles d’avril à juin. Nous avons ainsi décidé de reporter le festival du 22 au 27 septembre 2020” explique Marián Palma, directrice du festival qui, depuis le début de la crise n’a eu de cesse, avec son équipe, que de trouver des solutions de report pour les 35 compagnies de 14 pays différents initialement prévues. Le dialogue a aussi été nécessaire avec les financeurs du festival notamment la Mairie de Ségovie et la Fondation Siglo de la Junta de Castilla y León.

The 34th edition of Titirimundi would have been held from May 12 to 17 in Segovia, with an official presentation on April 3. It is postponed to September 22 to 27, 2020 (subject to current health conditions).

“Undo to redo”.

C‘est ainsi que Marián Palma décrit cette 34e édition. Il n’est pas facile de savoir si les compagnies seront disponibles, si la situation sanitaire permettra une programmation internationale et si les lieux prévus pour un festival de cette envergure à Ségovie seront accessibles. L’équipe du festival prépare une édition sur l’autre avec un an d’avance, c’est à dire à partir de juin. “Cette année, d’ailleurs, nous étions bien en avance et tout était prêt depuis quelques mois” affirme Marián Palma, qui a réussi, pour l’instant, à reporter un grand nombre des compagnies initialement engagées et à conserver les lieux choisis, avec l’aide de la Mairie de Ségovie, pour un festival de cette ampleur et de cette importance au niveau international. . “Les compagnies ont très bien réagi, très rapidement. La profession des marionnettistes se caractérise par une bonne volonté et de l’entraide. Nous sommes proches des artistes qui nous ont manifesté leur envie de venir à Titirimundi, ne serait ce que l’année prochaine si ce n’est pas possible autrement” ajoute-t-elle.

Thanks to the support of the Provincial Council, the festival can tour in 50 provincial cities in September. The team is also working on a tour of 14 Spanish cities. Thus at least 50% of the actions are maintained, as well as the workshops which are an integral part of the festival. The cultural actions within the framework of the programming reach audiences which cannot go to the usual places of programming: hospitals, retirement homes, prisons, centers for the mentally and physically handicapped, etc.

“Et puis, nous verrons ce qui se passera en septembre. S’il y a une chose que nous défendons, nous qui sommes au plus prêt des marionnettistes c’est que l’art et la vie vont ensemble, que l’un n’existe guère sans l’autre, et que nous ne pouvons rien contrôler en ces temps incertains. Nous devons donc nous adapter du mieux que nous pouvons” explique Palma, en faisant allusion à cette maxime que Julio Michel, fondateur du festival, connaissait bien : vivre au présent.

Titirimundi

More info: https://www.titirimundi.es//

Over 15,000 visitors for the Festival de Casteliers in Montreal

Festival de Casteliers

From March 4 to 8, 2020, the Festival de Casteliers in Montréal celebrated its 15th anniversary by bringing together more than 15,000 visitors and spectators in eight venues. A large audience of adults and children attended around thirty representations of companies from eight different countries (France, Belgium, Canada, Quebec, Greece, Mexico, Finland, Scotland). Many activities and exhibitions were offered in parallel, showing the dynamism of puppetry in Quebec. AVIAMA, of which the Arrondissement d’Outremont is a member, was present through the exhibition of panels bringing together the visuals of the member cities.

Exceptional birthday party

For its 15th anniversary, the Casteliers festival celebrated the dedication of its founder, Louise Lapointe, artistic director and co-general manager. He also highlighted the exceptional career of André Laliberté, artistic director of the Théâtre de l’Oeil. A tribute was paid to the Chinese shadow theater and the Shanghai puppet theater, forced to cancel its arrival. In solidarity, the recording of their Mulan show hosted by twelve puppeteers was screened in cinematographic conditions.

Facets of contemporary puppetry

The dozen shows painted a magnificent portrait of contemporary puppetry, from the most classic to the most fragmented forms. From the warlike tale to the futuristic dystopia passing by the migrant crisis, the programming of the Festival de Casteliers has demonstrated once again the infinite richness and diversity of themes, techniques and mediums of the puppetry arts.

35 foreign programmers

A key meeting point for the profession in Quebec, with meetings, exchanges and collaborations, the Festival also received a delegation of 35 foreign programmers. Throughout the week, the Pavillon Saint-Viateur hosted the OUF! festival off de Casteliers. The 16th edition of the Festival de Casteliers de Montréal will take place from March 3 to 7, 2021.

A puppet inducted as an honorary citizen by the City of Saguenay

L'autre dans la cité

Around the corner, an unusual citizen catches the eye of passers-by. Some may find her strange, but others smile at her or even send her a hand – not the first time they’ve met her downtown.

L’AUTRE (the other) is a human-sized puppet walking around shops and public spaces. She experiments the human daily life by various actions such as sipping a coffee on a terrace, reading a book in the library or ordering a meal in a restaurant.

During a formal ceremony held at the Saguenay City Hall, Saguenay’s elected officials welcomed L’AUTRE (the other) who was officially proclaimed “Saguenay’s citizen puppet”! The event was an opportunity for this Quebec city to signify symbolic support to its cultural milieu and to celebrate World Puppet Day while proudly underlining its membership in AVIAMA.

“Saguenay has recognized the impact and importance that the human-sized puppet, L’Autre, can have on young and old alike. Saguenay is probably the only city to have a puppet as a citizen and of international renown. We did not hesitate for a very long time to make him a full-fledged citizen of Saguenay,” said Josée Néron, mayor of Saguenay.

An unusual happening on the border between the imaginary and the real

Since then, this puppet has been circulating regularly in the city as part of the “L’Autre dans la cité” project, an original artistic concept designed by La Tortue Noire, a theatre company from Saguenay. In order to inscribe the actions of L’AUTRE in the public space, a brigade of four puppeteers is constantly on the lookout, prioritizing improvisation and spontaneous gestures. They accompany L’AUTRE in its encounters with the population to demystify the puppet arts, with the intention of cultural mediation.

Citizen meetings on a human scale

The dimension and realistic gestures of the puppet, made by artist Mylène Leboeuf, have elicited numerous reactions during more than twenty public outings in Saguenay. To date, close to 10,000 Saguenay citizens have been able to see The OTHER in public space. In addition, this unique character has travelled to other cities a few times and has even visited several cities in Mexico. Beyond simple animation, the presence of this human-sized puppet, this “other citizen”, aims to foster collective awareness and calls for an openness to community life. His surprising presence leaves no one indifferent.

A video capsule is available on the web platform of La Fabrique culturelle de Télé-Québec: https://www.lafabriqueculturelle.tv/capsules/10966/l-autre-dans-la-cite-le-theatre-de-la-tortue-noire

Copyright photos : Cie La Tortue Noire – Sophie Gagnon-Bergeron

90th anniversary of the birth of Francisco Peralta

From today, Friday 5th June, until Sunday, the friends and admirers of the great master puppeteer Francisco Peralta will pay homage to him on the social networks of the Segovia Tourist Office and the Francisco Peralta Puppet Museum : Marian Palma (director of the Titirimundi festival), Alberto Albarrán (director of the School of Art and Design, Casa de los Picos), Sonia Zubiaga (La Pícara Locuela), Lucile Bodson (coordinator of AVIAMA), Paco Paricio (puppeteers from Binéfar), María Parrato (puppeteers from María Parrato), Carlos Muñoz de Pablos (master stained glass artist and academician from the Royal Academy of History and Art of San Quirce) and Claudia de Santos (tourism consultant).  

Francisco Peralta is one of the most important personalities in the history of puppetry.

His work has been distinguished by the most prestigious national and international awards.

  • In 1990, he was awarded the Medal of Merit for Fine Arts.
  • In 2008, UNIMA appointed Francisco Peralta and Matilde del Amo as honorary members.
  • In 2009, he is listed in the World Encyclopedia of Puppetry, alongside the greatest puppeteers of all time.

Two years ago, on January 2, 2018, Francisco Peralta passed away, but his memory is still very present in Segovia thanks to the Puppet Collection that bears his name.

The imprint left by Francisco Peralta and his link with the city of Segovia are profound. Between 1980 and 1984, he taught at the School of Arts and Crafts in Segovia. During this period he created, with his students, a new version of Romance de la Condesita and in 1982 he officially created the foundation Marionetas Peralta del Amo, together with his wife Matilde and his daughters.

In 2014, the Francisco Peralta Puppet Museum was inaugurated in the Puerta de Santiago, one of the ancient gates of the Segovian wall, an important part of the city’s heritage. This permanent exhibition has 38 puppets donated by master Peralta to the city of Segovia.

For more information on Francisco Peralta’s puppet collection, see here or there