Quirky, leftist, and genuinely impressive is how I’d describe Detroit’s Cantastoria Festival, organized by Flying Cardboard Theater.
I went in not knowing what to expect, but walked out struck by how inventive and educational the night was. The puppets, scrolls, costumes, visual art, music, acting, and overall energy came together in a way that felt both experimental and intentional.
Organizers opened the evening by explaining that “cantastoria” is a storytelling tradition blending singing and narration with painted banners and scrolls. According to the festival’s website, cantastoria traces back to 6th century India before spreading across continents, eventually influencing modern puppet theater and continuing as a “living and breathing folk performance practice” today. The festival also draws on “cranky” shows, or performances using a painted scroll displayed with a hand crank — another historic form now enjoying a revival among folk artists and musicians.
I was super glad to get this background before the shows began, and I loved how just that introduction felt like a show in itself.
From there, the night — which took place at St. Peter’s Church — unfolded into 12 short performances. Each one tackled modern issues through historical context, humor, and a little chaos. The acts ranged widely in tone, including one about the history of cleavage, one about a neighborhood block club, and several unpacking pieces of Detroit’s past.
“Belvidere vs. Crestline” was one of my favorites, exploring two automotive giants having an explosive conversation, locked in a loop of chasing profit, using industry nostalgia to critique the present. I loved this act for its balance of comedic timing and educational substance — plus, the acting was genuinely great.
Local filmmaker and actor Nico Swan, who was one of the characters in this act, shared how the piece came together: “Gary [the projector operator of the show] found the reel in some yard sale,” he says. “The festival is very community-based, so we all kind of just went around the room and pitched our ideas. I said I liked projections. He asked if I wanted to be in that one.” Swan also assisted with filming and said the group spent about five to six weeks preparing.
As the website explains, Detroit Cantastoria Fest is an annual gathering where local artists and activists create short shows through free community workshops, learning the form and building pieces together before staging a “beautiful, raucous, and thought-provoking” weekend of performances.
With all of its intricate details, the short timeline makes this festival even more impressive, and I love the communal nature of how it came together.
Besides just the acting, the music was a major standout of the night for me.
Local artist Rocketman wowed me and many others, his booming vocals filling the church corridor and earning one of the biggest applauses of the night. The band and other music performances were also some of my favorite pieces, and I loved how the music intermingled with and between each act.
Still, the collaborative, collective spirit of the show is what truly stood out most — from the music to the acting to the overall energy and chaotic put-togetherness. Artists pulling inspiration from found materials, old stories, and shared imagination to create something Detroit-specific and deeply communal was beautiful to witness.
I’m definitely looking forward to attending again next year, and I would recommend you do too.
Published in conjunction with Detroit Metro Times.
