“Le Guarattelle di Pulcinella”: conceived, directed, designed and performed by Gianluca di Matteo
“GO!”: written, directed, designed and performed by Polina Borisova

Italy’s Pulcinella character is the forefather of European puppet theater. With this offering of back-to-back performances by Gianluca di Matteo, the foremost interpreter of the Pulcinella tradition, and Polina Borisova, an up-and-coming artist whose style goes beyond the existing framework of puppet theater, organizers hope to deepen the study of puppet theater, both traditional and contemporary.
There will also be educational lectures and workshops based on collaborations between leading international artists and universities, in an initiative designed to support and enrich the performers’ own research and educational research, and help secure new audiences.
As part of this event, Oshima island officials were desirous of arranging exchange between high school students from the island and artists from overseas. The belief is that international interaction involving young people will expand the island’s base for art creation, and generate an environment for art appreciation on a par with another Tokyo island Izu Oshima, which was devastated by fatal landslides in 2013.