The Traditional Puppet Show TEATRO DOM ROBERTO (P)

The Portuguese Traditional Itinerant Puppet Show rooted in the European tradition of glove puppets, namely the Pulchinella from the Italian Comédia Dell’Arte (16th Century), the Portuguese Dom Roberto theatre retains all the characteristics from this form of traditional theatre. Arriving in Portugal in the 18th Century it remained unchanged until mid 20th Century. By then the competition with contemporary popular entertainment led to the decay of Dom Roberto theatre.

S.A.Marionetas was established in Alcobaça, Portugal in 1997. José Manuel Valbom Gil had the privilege of personal contact with traditional Puppet Master António Dias, one of the last itinerant puppeteers. From his testimony S.A.Marionetas re-created 3 small plays that were part of the original repertoire: "The Barber", "The Bullfight", “Rosa and the 3 lovers”. The plays were passed by oral tradition and in the 50’s of the XX Century the political regime in Portugal forbids the presentation of many of this plays. Because of this, many plays are now lost forever. Also at this time many puppeteers worked without license so they shortened the plays to be able to do the play, collect money and escape before the arrival of the police. This is why the plays are short.

The Barber – Dom Roberto is about to be married and he decides to go to the barber to shave for his wedding. When the barber finishes the work asks for the payment and Dom Roberto thinks it’s too expensive. They fight and the barber is killed. Then comes the priest, the police man, the devil and finally the Death. After o number of fights Dom Roberto gets to be the hero.

The Bullfight – Traditional from Portugal, this play is a small part of what you can see in a bullfight, with the Toureiro, the bull and the Forcados (this one’s only exists in Portugal). At the end ends well and the bull is not harmed!

Rosa and the 3 lovers – This play tells the story of Rosa. Rosa is a housekeeper and she is very passionate! So when the employers go out shopping, Rosa gets the visit of her boyfriend. But Rosa has more than one boyfriend and they all get together in the house at the same time! After a big confusion everything ends well.

S.A.Marionetas has participated in the festivals:

Bienal Internacional de Marionetas de Évora (2001, 2003, 2007, 2011)
Comemoraçőes do Bicentenário da Revoluçăo Napolitana de 1799 (1999)
Festival Internacional de Marionetas para Adultos de Granada (Spain 1999)
Europaisches Puppentheater Festival de Hamburg (Germany 2000)
Festival Internacional de Marionetas de Albacete (Spain 2003)
Fęte des Enfants Pas Sages Festival Internacional de Marionetas de Lasseube (France 2003)
Puppet Extravaganza (England 2004)
Puppets a Plenty (England 2004)
Punch & Judy Festival (Wales 2004, 2005)
Dynamics’05 (England 2005)
European Folk Puppets – Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre (Scotland 2005)
London’s Punch & Judy Festival (300 years of Punch & Judy 2008)
International Festival of Glass (England 2008)
Dynamics’09 (England 2009)
Galicreques (Spain 2090, 2010)
World Festival of Puppet Art (Czech Republic 2010)
Festival del Títere de Cádiz (Spain 2011)
International Figurentheater Festival (Belgium 2011)
International Festival of Traditional Puppet - Anton Anderle (Slovakia 2011)

The performance is suitable for children aged 5 and older.

More at: www.samarionetas.com/teatro_d.roberto.htm