The play is an adaptation of a traditional folktale that dates back to the 17th century. Pulcinella, the protagonist, is attacked by a dog, so he seeks help from its owner. However, the owner takes advantage of the situation and demands payment in exchange for his release.
This leads to a conflict that results in the demise of the dog’s owner and the appearance of Death, whom Pulcinella must confront before he can reunite with his beloved.
A simple story with timeless values, it is told with strength and rhythm, and has the power to engage audiences of all ages. Through the language of puppetry, it has achieved great success around the world.
A tale for all ages, for all countries.
Gianluca Di Matteo is an Italian puppeteer working within the Italian tradition of puppet theatre. Over the past 25 years, his Pulcinella puppet show has reached audiences in 22 countries, in collaboration with festivals, theatres, and Italian cultural institutes abroad.
He teaches puppetry at the Albertina Academy of Fine Arts in Turin and works with the Mus-e project. He has also been leading and designing workshops in primary schools, delivering approximately 1,800 hours of workshops over the past nine years. In addition, he conducts workshops for puppeteers and actors in Italy and internationally.
His wooden puppets are part of collections exhibited in the United States at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, in Brussels at the Théâtre Royal du Peruchet Museum, and in the Poppenspe(e)lmuseum in Vorchten, the Netherlands, as part of a theatre and museum project on blindness.
