Guignol Et Le Concours De Coups De Bâton - Théâtre La Maison De Guignol, Lyon

A living tradition at THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL

At THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL, we are delighted to welcome audiences for Guignol et le concours de coups de baton, a joyous celebration of Lyon’s most famous marionette and the wry, quick-witted spirit he embodies. From our vantage point as the historic home of this art form in the old town, we cherish the role of host, caretaker, and creative partner to the puppeteers who keep Guignol’s voice crisp, mischievous, and unmistakably local. The title says it all: a contest of stick blows becomes a playground for rhythm, repartee, and the sly reversals that have defined Guignol’s satire since the days of Laurent Mourguet. In our intimate theater, the slapstick energy is magnified—every beat of the drum, every rustle of the curtain, every cheeky aside to the crowd lands with immediate warmth. Families and first-timers discover the marvel of artisanal puppetry, while longtime devotees relish a performance style that moves nimbly between playful anarchy and social observation, true to the Guignol tradition of humor with a human pulse.

As a venue, we are proud to showcase the troupe’s current artistic momentum: deftly carved and meticulously costumed marionettes that look newly minted yet carry centuries of craft; scenic paintings that conjure the city’s courtyards, traboules, and riverside quays; and a musical palette that nods to popular airs while adopting lively contemporary arrangements. The writers and puppeteers continue to blend classic characters—Guignol, Madelon, Gnafron—with topical winks that speak to today’s Lyon without sacrificing timeless clarity for younger audiences. This season’s work underscores what makes the art so vibrant: crisp pacing, expressive manipulation that telegraphs gesture and emotion with economy, and language that dances between straightforward storytelling and playful double meanings. From our stage, we see how the humor keeps evolving—never cynical, always spirited—where a well-timed baton flourish punctuates a moral lesson, and a dart of streetwise logic sends a pompous adversary tumbling. Our technical team supports this renewal with precise lighting for quick scene shifts, clear acoustics for every aside, and an up-close staging that invites children to react in real time while adults savor the craftsmanship.

What awaits you in Guignol et le concours de coups de baton

Guignol et le concours de coups de baton captures the essence of why audiences return to THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL: a tale that feels both familiar and freshly minted, built on tempo, surprise, and the joyous give-and-take between stage and spectators. The premise—a contest measured in the comic currency of stick blows—opens a door to physical bravura and verbal agility. Guignol’s quick thinking becomes the show’s compass, steering the action through a chain of reversals where bluster meets brains and bravado learns a lesson. Expect hand-painted backdrops that sketch a lively Lyonnais atmosphere, nimble scene changes that keep the narrative brisk, and puppeteers whose timing makes even the smallest gesture read like a punchline. Children laugh at the elastic antics and clear stakes, while adults catch the sly asides, the hints of social satire, and the affectionate portraits of neighborhood types. From our front row to the back, sightlines bring the marionettes close enough for every eyebrow flick to register; the energy gathers, beat by beat, until the contest’s clamor resolves in the kind of communal cheer you only find in a room built for stories. Before and after the performance, our team keeps the welcome warm, ensuring that each visit to our house in Vieux Lyon feels like a rendezvous with living heritage—spirited, generous, and gloriously alive on the strings.