The soul of the People

Documentary theater and film experience around puppet traditions around the world

Premio Nacional de Teatro para la infancia y la juventud 2014 Ξ Premio Prestigio Turístico Nacional

A love story between mankinds and objets

The Soul of the People is a performance experience halfway between puppet theater, a lecture and a documentary film.

A passionate and defender of puppets, comes on stage to talk about ancient traditions, teachers without disciples, collectors, about the different ways to construct puppets, and to impart to the younger generation, the vocation according to different cultures; all this rich heritage puppeteer is a perfect metaphor for human life. Mais she will meet a colleague that he will not make it easy …

Contemporary puppets are combined with others from ancient traditions, a live actress, and with numerous videos, creating a grand contrast between the distinct forms of expressions. The Soul of the People is a call to attention, an act of love for the art of puppetry.

“The company Etcétera conducted a detailed and documented work The Soul of the People on puppet traditions around the world. This mixed format that combined recorded documentaries and performing arts pays with fervor and generosity, tribute to the art of the puppet master.

Etcétera presented this work in an engaging format, by combining projected video, acting and puppetry. By integrating the video in a gaming device, Etcétera takes us from one place to another; the viewer’s interest — while not an active role, becomes the necessary observer. This may be the most honest method that we can find.»

Coline Merlo, in Cassandre Hors Champs (France), No. 99 October 2014.

This show has toured: Festival Mondial de Charleville Mézières (France), La Nef (France), Festival Fidena (Germany) Festival Kilkis (Greece), Festival Titirimundi (Spain), Matanzas Puppet Workshop (Cuba), Maldonado Puppet Festival (Uruguay), National University of San Martin (Argentina), etc.

Artistic file:

Director: Enrique Lanz
Dramaturgy: Enrique Lanz and Yanisbel V. Martínez
Actress: Yanisbel V. Martínez
Puppeteers: Enrique Lanz, Leo Lanz
Vídeos: Camera and realization: Enrique Lanz
Edition: Dull Janiell Hernández, Enrique Lanz
Construction of puppets: Etcétera y Barbatos FX Mecanismo
Sprites: Álabe Pequeña Mecánica Escenografía:
Construction scenery: Carlos Montes, Óscar Ruiz
Costura: Mary Carmen Vidal
Production: Etcétera. Es un proyecto en colaboración con la Agencia Andaluza de Instituciones Culturales

Show features:

Audience: all audiences and interests (school, family, adults, professionals, students …)
Time: between 35 and 70 minutes. Check with the company.
Text: Spanish, French or English.
Format: it adapts to any type of scenic and unconventional space.