Anastasia Puppis : research residency in January

Anastasia Puppis is in research residency from 8 to 24 January.

Anastasia Puppis has a dual career as a puppeteer and researcher. Artistic director of the Compagnie Ueueuè, she is developing an innovative research project on the iconography of puppet shows in Europe from the Middle Ages to the 19th century (which will give rise to an exhibition in 2026). In particular, her work explores the figure of Polichinelle and his counterparts, the occupation of public space by travelling puppeteers, the evolution of scenic devices and the relationship with the audience through the ages.

This historical research feeds directly into her artistic practice within the Compagnie Ueueuè. With Léandre Simioni, she develops the multiple facets of Pulcinella, combining mastery of the pivetta and two-handed manipulation, while deepening the relationship between puppeteer and performer. Their contemporary approach favours improvisation and dialogue with today’s audiences, in a variety of venues from theatres to unconventional public spaces..

Her expertise is based on a rich and varied background. Trained in Neapolitan guarattelle with masters Bruno Leone and Gaspare Nasuto, she also studied contemporary puppetry with François Lazaro. Her background includes a full theatrical training course at the Accademia Nico Pepe in Udine (classical and contemporary theatre, commedia dell’arte and masked play) and an apprenticeship in Burmese puppetry with Daw Ma Ma Naing.

Her academic career reflects this multidisciplinary approach. At the University of Venice, she studied the use of puppetry in foreign language learning. At the University of Paris 8, she developed a reflection on the interactions between human actors and puppets, exploring their theatrical and social implications.