Abstract

Opera dei Pupi emerged at the beginning of the 19th century as a mainly family-operated business. Puppeteers retold and improvised stories  deriving from medieval chivalric literature and old Italian poetry. Puppet theatres in Sicily were widely popular among the working class and would take place in small, humble venues, providing a regular venue for social gatherings. Despite economic difficulties starting in the mid-20th century which caused the Opera dei pupi to shift slightly in venue and target audience, The ongoing tradition reinforces Sicilian identity through the creative retellings of history and highlights the relationships between social classes.