The puppet theatre known as the Opera dei Pupi emerged in Sicily at the beginning of the nineteenth century and enjoyed great success among the island’s working classes. The puppeteers told stories based on medieval chivalric literature and other sources， such as Italian poems of the Renaissance， the lives of saints and tales of notorious bandits. The dialogues in these performances were largely improvised by the puppeteers. The two main Sicilian puppet schools in Palermo and Catania were distinguished principally by the size and shape of the puppets， the operating techniques and the variety of colourful stage backdrops.
　　These theatres were often family-run businesses； the carving， painting and construction of the puppets， renowned for their intense expressions， were carried out by craftspeople employing traditional methods. The puppeteers constantly endeavoured to outdo each other with their shows， and they exerted great influence over their audience. In the past， these performances took place over several evenings and provided opportunities for social gatherings. It reflected the sense of belonging shared by all Sisilians.
　　西西里木偶剧形成于19世纪初期的西西里，并在该岛平民阶层中获得了巨大成功。它讲述的故事一般取材于中世纪的骑士文学、文艺复兴时期的意大利诗歌，以及圣徒或江洋大盗的生活，但大部分对白都是木偶艺人在演出中即兴发挥的。西西里木偶剧有两个主要流派，即巴勒莫和卡塔尼亚，主要区别在于木偶的大小和形制，以及操作技巧和各具特色的舞台布景。这种戏剧一般为家庭剧团经营，传统和技艺在内部世代相传。而木偶复杂的雕刻、着色和制作，则是请专业的工匠用传统的方法制作。木偶艺人在艺术上一直都试图超越自己并尽力去感染观众。过去，延续几晚的木偶演出给不同阶层的人提供了走出家门聊天的机会。这一戏剧形式反映了西西里人共同的归属感。