Condolence Message for the Passing of Mariano Dolci
November 3, 2025

With profound emotion and boundless gratitude, UNIMA Italia pays tribute to Mariano Dolci — puppeteer, educator, theorist, and friend, an Unforgettable Master.

Founder of the Italian national center and honorary member of both UNIMA Internationale and UNIMA Italia, Mariano was a steadfast guide and an essential reference for generations of puppetry artists and scholars.

His passing leaves a great void, yet also a luminous legacy that will continue to inspire all who, like him, believed in the vibrant, poetic, and pedagogical power of puppetry. Mariano was a singular figure: able to unite the wisdom of the craftsman with the curiosity of the intellectual, the playfulness of the performer with the depth of reflection.

In his puppets, there was always something that transcended the stage — a vision of theatre as a meeting, as attentive listening, as dialogue with others, carried out with the utmost respect, particularly for children. Those fortunate enough to know him experienced his generosity in sharing knowledge, passing on experience, and building bridges between tradition and contemporaneity.

His work, reflections, and humanity will remain a treasured legacy for our entire community.

On behalf of UNIMA Italia, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who, following his teachings, will continue to breathe life into the soul of puppetry and his vision.

Thank you, Mariano, for your art, your gentle firmness, and for reminding us that theatre is, above all, an act of love.

The Board of Directors of UNIMA Italia