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

Welcome to a festive season at THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL

At THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL, we are delighted to welcome families, first-time visitors, and devoted aficionados to celebrate the holidays with Guignol et le Noel Surprise. As the home stage of Lyon’s beloved marionette, our venue embraces the warmth and wonder of the season, inviting audiences to step into a handcrafted world where humor, quick wit, and generous spirit guide every scene. The charm of Guignol thrives in our intimate room, where the proximity between performers and public turns each performance into a conversation—children eager to warn the hero, adults savoring the clever asides. For this holiday adventure, our creative team leans into the tactile beauty of traditional puppetry—carved figures, vibrant costumes, and lively voices—while shaping a pace and staging that keep modern families engaged. Guignol et le Noel Surprise brings festive mischief, a dash of suspense, and heartwarming togetherness, all anchored in the living heritage of Lyon’s most famous canut and his friends, offered in the theatrical setting that has championed him for generations.

Our current artistic journey with Guignol

Our current season continues to reaffirm the vitality of Guignol’s repertory by renewing the encounter between tradition and today’s imagination. From the vantage of THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL, we invest in fresh scenic ideas, new puppets and props crafted by local artisans, and playful storytelling that nods to everyday life in Lyon—little winks that parents relish and children intuitively grasp. The iconic partners—Gnafron, Madelon, and the colorful gallery of neighbors, shopkeepers, and tricksters—return with spirited energy, while our team fine-tunes rhythms, gags, and audience call-and-response to keep each performance delightfully alive. Throughout the year we curate a program of family-friendly shows that adjust to school holidays and weekends, making space for different age groups and attention spans without losing the brisk tempo that defines Guignol. Educational encounters and behind-the-scenes moments are regularly woven into the experience, helping young spectators understand the artistry of voice, gesture, and manipulation. In this way, Guignol’s heritage remains a living craft in our hands—rooted in Lyon’s culture and responsive to the curiosity of today’s public—ensuring that each new chapter feels both familiar and freshly minted.

Guignol et le Noel Surprise stands at the heart of our holiday calendar because it distills what audiences cherish about the season and about Guignol himself: quick-thinking generosity, lively repartee, and a shared sense of celebration. On our stage, wintery atmospheres, glowing windows, and playful soundscapes conjure the streets and courtyards of old Lyon, while nimble stagecraft transforms simple materials into magical effects that children can follow and adults can appreciate. We design sightlines and sound with young spectators in mind so that every seat captures the expressive clarity of the marionettes, and we encourage the spirited interactions that define a Guignol outing—the warnings, the laughter, the collective triumph when ruses succeed. Beyond the performance, our team is present to guide families, answer questions about the puppets and their voices, and share the stories that keep this art form vibrant. By hosting Guignol et le Noel Surprise at THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL, we reaffirm a seasonal ritual the city holds dear: a festive rendezvous where craftsmanship meets imagination, and where community gathers for a joyful theatrical experience shaped by the living legacy of Lyon’s most endearing hero.