Les Vacances De Monsieur Guignol

Les Vacances de Monsieur Guignol at THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL

From our stage at THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL, we are delighted to welcome audiences to Les Vacances de Monsieur Guignol, a family adventure that channels the quick wit, social mischief, and generous spirit that have defined Lyon’s most famous marionette for generations. In this holiday-themed escapade, Guignol’s desire for a little rest and sunshine inevitably spirals into capers, clever reversals, and the kind of audience interaction that keeps children leaning forward and grown‑ups grinning. Expect the familiar companions—resourceful Madelon, jovial Gnafron, and the ever‑flustered forces of order—to appear in finely choreographed encounters where the smallest gesture of a glove puppet becomes a grand story beat. Our puppeteers play with rhythms of chase and surprise, slipping in topical jokes, local color, and gentle nods to today’s world, while retaining the frank, canut‑born sense of justice that has always animated Guignol. The staging is intimate and musical, inviting call‑and‑response moments, a few well‑timed asides to the crowd, and a finale that brings the room together in laughter—holiday spirit, Lyonnais style.

Artistic momentum and what’s new on our stage

At THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL, our resident team has been honing a season devoted to craftsmanship and renewal, and Les Vacances de Monsieur Guignol sits at the heart of that momentum. This year, our puppeteers have introduced delicately repainted faces, refreshed costumes in vibrant summer hues, and a modular set that flips seamlessly from city corner to seaside promenade. New musical cues—performed live and woven with recorded textures—add warmth and propulsion to chase scenes while giving quieter moments a lullaby glow. We have also expanded our outreach: daytime school shows designed to demystify marionette technique, hands‑on encounters to show how a tilt of the wrist or a snap of a sleeve reads as pure emotion, and post‑show exchanges where children can ask Guignol how he gets himself out of impossible situations. Behind the curtain, dramaturgical workshops have supported the writing of brisk, contemporary dialogues that honor the tradition’s moral backbone—wit in the service of fairness—without weighing down the pace. These efforts flow directly into Les Vacances de Monsieur Guignol, sharpening the timing of gags, heightening the sense of place, and ensuring every seat in our intimate house catches the glint of mischief in Guignol’s eye.

We present this new chapter of adventures with the care of custodians and the curiosity of collaborators. In Les Vacances de Monsieur Guignol, the delight lies in details: the sun‑splashed palette of the backdrops, the comically overpacked suitcase that becomes a running gag, the way a parasol doubles as prop, partner, and punchline. Our team emphasizes clarity of gesture and the musicality of silence, so even the smallest audience members can read the story’s stakes. Dialogue darts between wordplay and straightforward humor, ensuring that regional flavors are tasty for visitors while still feeling like home to locals. The production is paced for family audiences—brisk scenes, bright transitions, and humor that rewards attentive eyes—yet it is built with the traditional robustness that makes Guignol timeless: the courageous little one who outthinks bullies, the loyal friend who finds the right bottle at the wrong moment, the comrade who keeps a household running while the world tilts. As the lights rise and our puppeteers bow, you sense the continuity between craft and community: a living heritage that thrives on shared laughter. Les Vacances de Monsieur Guignol invites you to take your own short holiday inside our theatre—one measured not in miles, but in giggles, gasps, and the quicksilver joy of seeing a wooden hero spring to life just an arm’s length away.