Theatre Seasons, a commitment to creativity
Although using puppets or figures is one of the oldest theatrical forms in the world, Cuba really did not gain momentum and true consistency in the art until the late 1940´s, with pioneers and promoters such as the Camejo Brothers, as well as María Antonia Fariñas and Beba Farías. Before then it wasn´t exactly an appreciated stage genre, and even now, though it has more relevance, it still does not receive the attention it deserves.
However, in many parts of the island, this genre has flourished, as is the Seasons Theater group´s case, a Cuban company who are known for good taste. From the nearby city Matanzas, it is recommended that you enjoy their coming performances in the capital. Founded in 1994, they have remained at the forefront of the Cuban figure theater movement due to their dedication to puppetry.
The Seasons Theater´s works and performances with puppets are not just for children, as many people think; in their repertoire are pieces for youth and adults. The puppeteers collective commitment is to produce metaphors of reality, closely linked to daily life: prejudice, contempts, joys and all the emotions of man manipulated by a person with heart, sensitivity and emotional vibrations that bring a puppet to life. The Seasons Theater´s productions are full of lessons, wisdom and allusions which promote the viewer´s critical reflection, always with a lot of magic, wit and subtlety, while maintaining the necessary range of distractions with maximum affability.
Based on the fact that the puppet itself is a visual image, Zenén Calero masterfully designs the figures and masks, costumes, the scenery and the lights, by pouring his imagination, talent and knowledge into his craft, which always has a poetic integrity.
The group is now comprised of a cohesive team and castings, which is working in other areas as well, such as audiovisual production and specialized workshops and exhibitions based on the wonderful art of making and manipulating puppets.
The Seasons Theater has received some of the genre´s most important awards at festivals and competitions around the country, and has also had quite a bit of international success with both audiences and critics in festivals such as France, Italy, Mexico, Venezuela, Denmark, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and the United States.
The company, with their work and awards daily refute the idea that puppetry is a lesser art. It should not be forgotten that in other parts, for example, those such as Pablo Picasso or Federico García Lorca worked in puppet design and creatively approached the topic as well. Your next visit to Havana should include an attendance to one of the Seasons Theater´s plays so you can see how the group stays true to and enriches the art of puppetry.
