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

Welcome to THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL

From our intimate stage in the heart of Lyon, THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL is delighted to welcome audiences to Guignol et le concours de coups de bâton, a spirited celebration of the city’s most iconic puppet and the living tradition he embodies. Our theatre has long been a home for sharp wit, mischievous energy, and the kind of laughter that unites generations, and this new engagement renews that promise in joyous fashion. You will feel the craftsmanship up close: the quicksilver timing of the voices, the vibrant painted sets, and the irresistible rhythm of the famous bâton punctuating punchlines and plot twists. We’ve designed the room so that every gesture carries, every aside is heard, and children and adults alike can catch the glint of satire in Guignol’s eye. As the curtain rises, you’ll step into a Lyonnais world that is at once familiar and freshly minted for today’s audiences—bold, affectionate, and gloriously alive on our stage.

Guignol et le concours de coups de bâton channels the essence of popular theatre: a simple premise inflated into a riot of invention. The “contest” becomes a comic engine powering sudden reversals, moral perplexities, and a cascade of verbal and physical gags. Our puppeteers play with tempo, layering verbal snap with the tapping cadence of the bâton, so that each scene lands with precision and musicality. Expect a parade of characters who test Guignol’s patience and cunning, situations that invite the audience’s complicity, and a generous measure of local flavor—nods to neighborhoods, markets, and the everyday poetry of Lyon life. We have leaned into color and texture for this production: warm façades, lively marketplace backdrops, and props that move with purpose, giving each moment the tactile charm that makes Guignol unequalled in family theatre. The result is a show that evokes tradition without freezing it, sparkling with freedom, cheek, and that unmistakable Lyonnais bite.

Our season’s artistic momentum

As a producing and presenting house, THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL is committed to nurturing the heritage of Guignol while amplifying its contemporary voice, and this season’s work around Guignol et le concours de coups de bâton reflects that mission. Our company has refreshed the scenography, refined the sound design to keep every syllable crisp, and deepened the improvisational edges that make live performance thrilling—especially when little spectators laugh in the “wrong” place and the puppets answer back. We continue to invite families, schools, and curious visitors to discover how an age-old figure keeps speaking to current times: speaking truth to bluster, tilting at petty tyrannies, and defending common sense with courage and charm. Around the show, we foster encounters that reveal the craft behind the magic, from how a character takes shape in the hand to how a line finds its snap on the tongue. In programming, we balance beloved episodes with brand-new scenarios throughout the year, creating a living repertoire that rewards repeat visits. If you have not yet seen Guignol on our stage, this is the moment; and if you have, you know that every performance is a new conversation between puppets, puppeteers, and the audience they invite to play along.