A global ‘puppet’: Pinocchio’s adaptations in the marionette and puppet theatre

Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio is deeply rooted in Italy’s rich puppetry tradition. The correspondence between the novel and the practices of comic and puppet theatre reveals Collodi’s interest in the stage and reflects the widespread fascination with puppet performances in nineteenth-century culture. This volume explores the theatrical vocation of Collodi’s novel by examining its connections to the important phenomenon of puppetry in Europe. Bringing together a collection of essays, which includes two artistic contributions by contemporary practitioners, it investigates Pinocchio’s theatrical nature and global appeal to highlight how puppets and marionettes transcend artistic boundaries and bridge diverse popular traditions. This study of the cultural significance of puppetry offers new perspectives on Pinocchio’s transnational and transmedial resonance.