Guignol Et Le Noël Surprise - Théâtre La Maison De Guignol, Lyon

At THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL: A Festive Welcome

From our stage in the heart of Lyon, we are delighted to open our doors for the holiday run of Guignol et le Noel Surprise, a sparkling family treat that celebrates the warmth, mischief, and generosity that have made Guignol beloved for generations. At THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL, the artisans behind the scenes work with the same care and dexterity that have long defined the city’s puppet tradition, crafting expressive characters, hand-painted sets, and playful soundscapes that draw young spectators and lifelong fans into the action. As a venue, we take pride in the intimacy of our room: every seat feels close to the stage, every laugh is shared, and every moment of surprise spreads across the audience in waves of delight. This festive production extends our mission to bring accessible, high-quality storytelling to families, school groups, and curious visitors, blending time-honored gestures and contemporary theatrical touches. Whether you are discovering Guignol for the first time or returning to a cherished ritual, we welcome you to experience holiday magic in an atmosphere that is warm, friendly, and deeply Lyonnais.

In Guignol et le Noel Surprise, our puppeteers invite you into a world where anticipation runs high and kindness powers the biggest surprises. The narrative glides along on laughter and suspense: Guignol and familiar companions bustle through preparations, misread clues, face a few comic scrapes, and ultimately uncover a gift that is more about community than wrapping paper. Our staging brings the season to life with gleaming winter colors, twinkling light cues, and cleverly choreographed interactions that invite children to answer questions, clap rhythms, and spot the next twist before Guignol does. The language is bright and musical, the timing nimble, and the physical comedy affectionate rather than brash, allowing even the youngest spectators to join in confidently. You will recognize the hallmark traits that make this character timeless—resourcefulness, sincerity, and a talent for playful rebellion—refreshed with modern pacing and just enough wink-at-the-adults humor. With each performance, we aim to kindle togetherness across generations: grandparents, parents, and kids share a story that sparkles with generosity, a dash of mischief, and the irreplaceable charm of a live, handmade art.

Our Artistic Season and the Living Tradition of Guignol

As we present Guignol et le Noel Surprise, we are also excited to highlight the broader artistic life that animates our stage throughout the season. At THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL, our company continues to nurture new adventures for Guignol while preserving the meticulous craft of glove puppetry—refining voices, gestures, and stagecraft so the character’s wit and heart speak clearly to today’s audiences. Beyond performances, our team regularly develops educational encounters that demystify the art form: demonstrations of movement, playful introductions to stage mechanics, and conversations about how we build characters from wood, fabric, and imagination. These moments allow children to see how storytelling becomes tangible, and they inspire aspiring artists to think with their hands as well as their hearts. We are also expanding family-friendly programming across the calendar, ensuring that weekends and holiday periods offer ample opportunities to return to the theater and discover fresh capers, thematic variations, and seasonal surprises. Our guiding principle remains constant: to keep Guignol vibrant, curious, and compassionate, so that every visit feels both rooted in Lyon’s heritage and open to the future. This winter, we invite you to join us, settle into the glow of the stage, and let live puppetry remind you how wonder begins—one gesture, one laugh, and one shared story at a time.