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La Máquina Real, Figure theater´s evolution 11th century – 20th century.
Jesús Caballero Cortijo | 2024 | Spain
Animated sculpture has a long and extensive history. Human beings have always been seduced by a figure that reproduces some action or movement, enough to pretend the existence of an “anima”. This is the reason why the magic of animated objects has been used, from the most ancient civilizations to the present day, for purposes related to the propaganda of power, religious devotion or pure fun, whether aristocratic or popular.
In Spain we enjoy the fortune of having a wide and increasingly well documented history of this genre, where manifestations of different nature coexist that we group under the term Figure Theater, since it includes corporeal figures that participated in symbolic, liturgical ceremonies, celebrations. and public shows, as well as the theater of times before the 17th century.
In Spain we enjoy the fortune of having a wide and increasingly well documented history of this genre, where manifestations of different nature coexist that we group under the term Figure Theater, since it includes corporeal figures that participated in symbolic, liturgical ceremonies, celebrations. and public shows, as well as the theater of times before the 17th century.
The company La Máquina Real (The Royal Machine) has been working, since 2005, on the recovery of the archaic Bavasteles, the Arab legacy of shadow theater, followed by the mechanical altarpieces that will give way to the medieval altarpiece of figures immortalized by Melisendra and collected by Cervantes in Don Quixote. Also essential is the Tarasca with its bulky and gigantic predecessors of the real machine. The industrial revolution gave rise to tutilimundis and the cinematograph, and during the 19th century the royal machine gave way to romantic theater with string puppets. Of course, we cannot forget to give life to the recalcitrant Don Cristóbal and his truncheon theater that will serve as inspiration for Francisco Nieva to create his furious puppets.
Ten sets make up this exhibition, following the chronological order of the appearance of the figures in time. As an exhibition criterion, the structures of the altarpieces have been stripped bare, in order to reveal what is hidden during the theatrical performances.
Ten sets make up this exhibition, following the chronological order of the appearance of the figures in time. As an exhibition criterion, the structures of the altarpieces have been stripped bare, in order to reveal what is hidden during the theatrical performances.
Museum’s opening hours
From Tuesday to Friday
From 10:00 to 13:00 // From 16:00 to 19:00
Weekends and holidays
From 10:30 to 14:00 // From 16:00 to 19:30
Mondays: Closed
The museum will be closed on January 1 and 6, on January 5 in the afternoon; in Carnival from the 27th to the 5th, on June 24 for the San Juan festivities and on December 25. On December 24 and 31 in the afternoon.
Access to the theater will be closed 15 minutes after the start of the performance.
Tolosa Puppet
International Center
Euskal Herria Plaza
20400 Tolosa
Gipuzkoa