MILAN MUSEUM FOR HISTORIC PUPPETS
Plans are underway to create a museum in Milan dedicated to the two hundred-year- old Carlo Colla & Figli Company that has entertained generations of fans with its puppet shows.
The Colla puppets (based in Milan) were one of the highlight of this year's Spoleto arts Festival with their new production of “Il Ritorno di Ulisse in Patria” (“Return of Ulysses to His Homeland”) with the orchestral accompaniment of Monteverdi's work of the same name.
Differing from the Sicilian “Pupi” (puppets) performances which generally centre on themes taken from Ariosto's classic poem “Orlando Furioso”, inspired by the adventures of medieval Christian knights versus Saracen warriors. the Carlo Colla & Sons repertoire covers a wide range of over 150 works, including fairy tales, Shakespearean dramas, ballet, operas and classic theatrical pieces.
Apart from the subject matter, the Milan marionettes differ from their Sicilian Pupi cousins by the way they are manoeuvred - at the end of 3 metre- long cords attached to a crossbar of wood. The Pupi instead are attached by their heads to a rigid metal bar with less flexibility, but which allows them the traditional clashing movement of their legs, suitable for the battle scenes.
The Colla company keep a stock of over 4000 puppets, all hand crafted in every detail, with sumptuous brocade gowns for the princesses and real metal armour for the knights. The company has a history of performances dating back some two centuries and it can boast a repertoire of over 150 productions.
The museum in preparation will be situated inside the ex-Ansaldo engineering works, one of Milan's most famous industrial conversion spaces. Meanwhile it is possible to visit the Colla Laboratory in the Ansaldo complex.
Info: Tel. +39.0289531301/02.21119151 info@marionettecolla.org
