Les Vacances De Monsieur Guignol

At THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL: a new rendezvous with a Lyonnais legend

We are delighted to welcome families, curious travelers, and devoted fans to THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL for Les vacances de Monsieur Guignol, a sunny, mischief-filled adventure tailored for all ages. From our stage, where the distinctive cadence of Lyon’s most beloved puppet first echoes, we invite you to follow Guignol as he embraces the spirit of holidays: impromptu journeys, seaside daydreams, picnics that never go as planned, and clever tricks that turn little problems into great bursts of laughter. Our venue has long championed the living tradition of Guignol—its fast-paced banter, its heartfelt humor, and its interactive call-and-response that encourages children and adults alike to speak up, laugh out loud, and take part. In this show, the scenic language is bright and playful, the puppetry precise yet generous, and the rhythm crafted to keep young spectators enchanted while offering winks of social satire for grown-ups. As ever, the pleasure is collective: the audience becomes a companion to Guignol’s escapades, cheering him on as he transforms everyday mishaps into festive holiday memories.

Artistic momentum: the company’s craft and our season highlights

Les vacances de Monsieur Guignol arrives as our resident puppeteers continue a bustling season dedicated to renewing the heritage of the canuts’ spokesperson with contemporary flair. This year, the company deepens its research into traditional glove-puppet technique—tightening timing, expanding the physical vocabulary of each character, and fine-tuning the live voicing that gives Guignol his warm, streetwise charm. In parallel, the artists have been developing new short formats for school audiences and weekend families, crafting bite-size adventures and themed encounters that celebrate friendship, resourcefulness, and the joys of discovery. Our programming has also emphasized behind-the-scenes conversations about creating miniature worlds: how set pieces travel in and out with a flick of the wrist, how sound effects become the heartbeat of a chase scene, and how the smallest prop can deliver a laugh. This creative momentum informs Les vacances de Monsieur Guignol from beginning to end—every entrance crisp, every prank timed to perfection, every holiday mishap blooming into a moment of shared wonder within our intimate theatre.

From the very first cue, our stage team at THEATRE LA MAISON DE GUIGNOL works in concert to make the experience welcoming, immersive, and comfortably paced for families. Lighting paints the breezy warmth of summertime; music punctuates the antics with gentle grooves and sudden bursts of comic punctuation; and the set design evokes a colorful, portable holiday universe that keeps the storytelling nimble. The show’s structure encourages young spectators to take part—spotting clues, warning Guignol when mischief approaches, and celebrating each twist with spontaneous applause—while remaining accessible to English- and French-speaking audiences alike through expressive movement and clear visual storytelling. We are especially proud of how the production invites first-time visitors into the Guignol tradition without requiring any prior knowledge, yet still rewards longtime aficionados with sly nods to familiar traits: the quick wit, the sense of fairness, and the irrepressible joy of a hero who stands up for everyday people. Whether you are planning a family afternoon, introducing children to French puppetry, or simply seeking an hour of shared laughter, Les vacances de Monsieur Guignol brings the heart of Lyon’s theatrical heritage to life—warm, nimble, and wonderfully close to the audience on our stage.