It seems a very young group, and they are so in spirit and age, because the history of these actors has been developing for 60 years. There are no founders left, but one of its most expert members tells us about the joy they experience when the curtain closes and they receive the affection of the most demanding and sincere public: children.

Thus we passed light-dark, long and narrow stairs and finally we reached the direction of the Puppetry of Camagüey, with all that energy that encourages him to go out on stage; Diosmany Fernández Trujillo welcomes me.

This actor for 22 years, every morning he has woken up in the shoes of different characters, either a  bossy rooster or a counselor, an Indian, a gnome, the wolf of Little Red Riding Hood, a goat and many others. But if he must choose a character impregnated in his skin, he cannot forget the iremen, his first leading role that earned him the Caricatos Award nomination in 1999.

The beginnings

We return to his teacher and friend Silvia Ávila (founding actress-Puchy) who saw in him something more than a pilot or an engineer, she saw his puppeteer heart, sensitive and capable of making the little ones dream, and that’s why she brought him with her to the theater.

There he was a prop, only for a month and then he began his training work, together with the playwright and soul of the group, Mario Guerrero, whom everyone fondly remembers and bows to his achievements, as the group owes him so much in its almost 60 years, to whom he left his best stories and dreams for children.

The first performance was with the íremen, the premiere day came and there were three characters inspired by the Abacuá clothing but cheerful and dancers on the scene throughout the show. At the end, a crowd was waiting for the play and they offered a double show. Since then it has been like a tradition of the group: each premiere we must overcome the fatigue of the work and repeat the show, since there is never enough space for all the attendees.

Other characters in it

The bossy rooster is also fondly remembered, but his puppeteer heart beats for many reasons. He puts love into his doll and this at the same time lets the magic happen, a feeling that which he would not change for anything in the world.

His eyes shine when he confesses that the curtain go up and he discovers in the dark the expectant glances of the dazzled children or hearing an expression of astonishment, is a privilege, but …

That hug for his favorite character at the end of the show remains forever in his heart, because for Diosmany: the Puppetry is life.

Congratulations

Their wishes and congratulations to the group are based on keeping young blood and the preference of the children and their family, it is comforting to know that in times of so much technology there are still children who are not at home or on the street, they come to enjoy this gift of imagination.

The passionate puppeteer actor, he is the only one from the previous generations who is still active, hopes for going forward and to continue working with quality in what they are striving for today. He thinks that the new blood of the current Puppetry of Camagüey is nurtured with graduates of art schools, who work with new techniques, looks and characters, but give life to their little essence, that of making people laugh, cry and reflect with each show.

In the silence of COVID

While we remain in these difficult days of isolation, the group does not stop, a new work is developed behind closed doors, while the show “Threads of time”; reflects the history of past works very vivid  in the audience minds and its previous actors, making a review of its 59 years of work.

Mario Guerrero was and will be the soul and the eternal artistic direction of the puppeteers, he taught them to dream and to work big. Keeping your spirit and offering good things to such a demanding audience is the best tribute to those who are gone; but they left their mark, he says.

When the new play “The princess of wild flowers” premieres, magic will return to the Puppetry, between rehearsals and preparation Diosmany awaits for his grateful public, who applaud and smile, that is undoubtedly his best gift he can ask for.

Happy 59th anniversary to the Puppetry of Camagüey, thanks to the heartbeat of this actor for taking us behind the scenes.

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García