Guignol Et Les Trois Dragons - Théâtre La Maison De Guignol, Lyon

At THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL: a living tradition for today’s families

From our stage in the heart of Lyon’s historic center, THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL is proud to welcome audiences to a new chapter of the city’s most beloved puppet heritage. For generations, our house has kept the quick wit, social bite, and generous spirit of Guignol alive, inviting children and adults to meet a character who speaks to courage, friendship, and common sense. This season, we deepen that tradition with fresh scenography, finely tuned lighting, and handcrafted figures that bring the joy of live puppetry right up close. We have designed the auditorium experience to be intimate and playful, where laughter and gasps spread in waves and the performers respond in real time. Our teams in the workshop and onstage have worked hand in hand to refine gestures, rhythms, and musical cues so that every movement reads clearly for first-time visitors and longtime aficionados alike. In short, we are preparing the room, the strings, and the voices for a sparkling encounter with a classic hero discovering brand-new challenges.

About Guignol et les trois dragons

Guignol et les trois dragons arrives at THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL with a spirited promise: to test the mettle of Lyon’s favorite canny hero against opponents as spectacular as they are surprising. The production conjures three distinct dragon characters whose imposing silhouettes, shimmering textures, and humorous quirks turn the stage into a miniature world of wonder. Built to be as expressive from the first row as from the back of the house, the puppets glide, pounce, and preen with the kind of immediacy only live manipulation can achieve. The story balances gentle suspense with laughter, inviting the audience to join Guignol in decoding riddles, outwitting bluster, and discovering that bravery often begins with kindness. Our staging favors clear, lively storytelling, musical interludes that punctuate the action, and interactive moments where children can cheer, count, or help Guignol make the “right” choice. While the dragons bring scale and spectacle, the heart of the piece remains resolutely human: courage tested, friends found, and a community rallying around a shared adventure.

As a venue, we are equally excited about the artistic momentum surrounding the company presenting Guignol et les trois dragons. This season has seen a renewed focus on craftsmanship: new carvings and repainted heads that catch the light beautifully, reinforced mechanisms for delicate hand articulations, and costumes with tactile fabrics that rustle and glint under our updated lighting grid. The musical palette has also evolved, pairing jaunty rhythmic motifs with lyrical cues that signal character entrances and shifts in mood—an approach that keeps young ears alert and rewards seasoned listeners with subtle thematic callbacks. Alongside stage work, our team continues its commitment to audience outreach: pre-show introductions that demystify the puppets, post-show exchanges where families can ask the performers about voice work and manipulation, and occasional hands-on moments that reveal how a tilt of the wrist can turn wood and cloth into a living presence. Within our broader programming, this title anchors a cycle of adventures that celebrate Guignol’s resilience and humor while opening the door to new visual thrills. In practical terms, we have scheduled convenient daytime performances for families and school groups, as well as weekend slots for intergenerational outings, ensuring that everyone can experience the sparkle of this encounter between a clever Lyonnais and three unforgettable dragons. Whether you visit as a first-time guest or return as a faithful friend of the theatre, Guignol et les trois dragons is the kind of lively, handcrafted spectacle that reminds us why a small stage, a deft voice, and a well-placed chuckle can still feel like magic.