With its evocative name of roads and travelers Karromato came, a classic Central European puppet theater tradition. Invited to the XI International Puppet Workshop (TITM) and the International Council of UNIMA 2014 (International Union of Puppetry), presented their “Circus of wood” on the 21 in Sala Papalote de Matanzas and Friday 25 April at the Order III theater, home of La Colmenita from Havana Vieja. On Sunday 27 they have the last function in Pedro Arrupe room at 3:00 PM.
Karromato is a European company with home-based in Prague, made by artists from the Czech Republic, Spain and Hungary. As puppeteers from past epoques, they also travel telling stories with puppets. Since its founding in 1996, they have presented in more than thirty countries where the language was not a barrier, because his art does not need words. Today we talk with two of its members: Luis Montoto (Kiko) and his wife Paula Srncová.
Do the characters in “Circus of wood” respond one hundred percent to medieval classic types of Czech Puppet Theater?
Group Karromato
Yes “Circus of wood ” is an absolutely traditional spectacle that draws on the roots of Czech puppet shows of the nineteenth century. Originally, they were presented to the aristocrats; that is why the best known were court characters: kings, princesses, clowns … But then they also traveled to villages and small towns, where they played to the masses. Hence the most humble characters: farmers, musicians, and circus people.
On the making of the dolls I have always understood that it was a craft. Does that mean totally made by hand? Today, they are the puppeteers themselves or there is an industry that is dedicated to it?
Traditional puppets are always handmade. Formerly in the Czech Republic there were families who were engaged in the manufacture of dolls. Today, they are basically manufacture by some small state enterprises or private companies. These we did it ourselves in 1997 with friends and the designer of the company, Szilard Boraros. They are carved in wood and painted in oils.
When you will stage a play, How do you prepare the scripts? What is most important to take into account?
We write the scripts as a team, always based on the music that is a great inspiring thread. “Wooden Circus” is not one story but many circus acts. The characters are acrobats, dancers, a horse and rider Lucero, a Roman centurion, a lion and is tamer, a bear dancing to the sound of violin, an acrobat monkey and of course, the clown. Each number has its own circus musical accompaniment. Meanwhile “Tales by the fireside,” -another work of the company Karromato – are four tales of the Grimm Brothers basted with music by Schumann. “The Feast of the Emperor” is a parody on the life of Mozart.
Karromato has traveled to several continents and has had the opportunity to share with people from culturally diverse countries. How has been your experience in Cuba, your impressions of the Cuban public.
Here the public has been fabulous. These are very fun-loving people and grateful for the novelty.
Cuban children enjoy Karromato’s art
Have you considered the possibility of teaching a workshop of this artistic technique? Certainly, Cuban puppeteers would appreciate it….
In fact, in Matanzas, we gave a lecture on the art of the thread technique, and we are thinking in a future to come to give a workshop about making this type of puppet to Cuban artists. After the function on Sunday April 27, we hope to have a gathering of puppeteers in the theater itself, to which Suzie Freire, president of UNIMA Latin America, is invited.
by: Aymara Gómez
