DATA OF INTEREST

GUEST:
LA CASA DE LOS TÍTERES

HOST:
ADONIS MILÁN


Synopsis:

This is the story of the puppet group Nueva Línea, how they went from being one of the most emblematic projects of puppet theater in Cuba to being censored, with their creators persecuted and defamed by the Ministry of Culture and the State Security agency. This led to the forced exile of the creators, Yaqui Saiz and Geraidy Brito, simply for voicing disagreements during a meeting of theater practitioners with the management of the National Council of Performing Arts. The creators raised numerous violations of the Council's directives against the Cuban theater movement, as well as different needs and complaints from many theater groups throughout the archipelago. They became the voice of many silenced theater practitioners at the time, which was seen by the Cuban government as an act of rebellion and political dissent, especially when they adapted a letter of complaint against the cultural institution.

The narrative explores how they had to rebuild their lives and work in Argentina, constructing a theater through their own efforts. Brick by brick, they created the Cuban Puppet House - Argentina in the province of Buenos Aires. They talk about the work they do there, focusing on the ancient art of puppetry, without losing the essence of their Cuban identity even while performing for an Argentine audience.


Bio:

Yaqui Saiz (Guantánamo, Cuba 1977)

Director, designer, maker, actress-puppeteer, and playwright. Member of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba and UNIMA. Director of La Casa de los Títeres Cubana Argentina in JUNIN, Buenos Aires. She has published three books: "El Juego de Yaqui" by Tablas Alarcos Publishing of the Ministry of Culture of Cuba, "EL Pokér" by Aries Publishing, and "Manual Básico sobre la construcción y manipulación en ocho técnicas titiriteras" by Tres Lagunas Publishing in JUNIN, Argentina. In these books, she shares her teaching method on animation techniques and the importance of constructing mechanisms that enhance the authenticity of puppet figures for stage performance. She has received over thirty national and international awards in the categories of animation, design, and staging, and was recognized as a distinguished woman in culture in 2019. She holds the Silver Medal at the 2nd International Puppet Festival in Hanoi, Vietnam. She has conducted workshops on design, construction, and animation in countries such as Cuba, Lima, Brazil, and Argentina, and has given lectures and master classes at the Higher Institute of Art in Havana. Since 2005, she has designed, advised, written plays, and directed performances for other puppet groups.

In 2012, she arrived in Junín, Buenos Aires, and together with Geraidy Brito, they embarked on the task of building the independent theater La Casa de los Títeres Cubana Argentina with their own hands and resources. It includes a library, three bedrooms for accommodating artists, a workshop for making puppets and scenography, a permanent figure museum, and a theater with a capacity of 100 people.


Geraidy Brito Montes de Oca (Santa Clara, Cuba, 1976)

Graduate in Theater Arts, Acting Profile from the Higher Institute of Art in Havana, 1998. She received the Best Actress award that year at the Elsinor Festival. She has acted in groups such as Teatro Escambray, Teatro Los Elementos, and Huberth de Blanck Company. She has received several awards throughout her career as a dramatic and puppet actress, including the Villanueva Award from the Critics for the play "Una casa en la Frontera" directed by Daisy Martínez. She won the "El cochero Azul" Award for the play "Romelio y Juliana," adapted and directed by Geraidy Brito. She received the "Best Actress" award at the "Luisa Martínez Casado" Festival for her role as the Captain of Sappers in the play "Una casa en la frontera" in 2006. She also won the "El cochero Azul" Award for the play "Con ropa de Domingo," adapted and directed by Geraidy Brito in 2008. She was nominated for the Caricatos Awards in the category of Best Supporting Actress for her role as Isabel Tudor in 2010. She won the Female Performance with Puppets award at the Santa Clara Small Format Festival for the play "Bebé" in 2011 and was nominated for the Adolfo Llauradó Award.

Her adaptation of the story "Nené Traviesa" by José Martí was premiered by the Dripi group. Her version of "Donde hay hombre, no hay fantasma" was premiered by El guiñol Los Zahoríes de las Tunas. She is currently a puppeteer actress and producer of La Casa de los Títeres Cubana Argentina.

VIDEO

Series: "Theatre" La casa de los títeres

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