Mon Premier Guignol - Le Théâtre La Maison De Guignol, Lyon

Welcoming families to SALLE 2 - THEATRE MAISON DE GUIGNOL

From our stage in SALLE 2 - THEATRE MAISON DE GUIGNOL, we are delighted to invite audiences to discover Mon Premier Guignol, a joyful doorway into Lyon’s living puppet tradition. Our second room is designed for proximity: the stage sits close to the first row, allowing young spectators to see the textures of the hand-carved figures, the flicker of light on painted backdrops, and the nimble precision of the puppeteers’ craft. The acoustics are warm and gentle, ensuring that the lively rhythms, comic asides, and playful scuffles that define Guignol are clear without overwhelming first-time theatre-goers. We have carefully adapted the room’s layout and flow for families, with straightforward access, calm pre-show sound levels, and a comfortable atmosphere that encourages curiosity rather than intimidation. For many children, this will be their first experience of a live performance, and Mon Premier Guignol has been shaped with that in mind: vibrant colors, dynamic but readable action, and a story that blends mischief with kindness. In our setting, the famous silhouettes—Guignol, Gnafron, Madelon—appear not as museum relics but as spirited companions, guiding young audiences through a tradition born in Lyon and still reinvented each season.

The artistic momentum behind Mon Premier Guignol

As a venue, we have the privilege of seeing the rehearsal rooms and the wings, where the artistic heartbeat of Mon Premier Guignol keeps evolving. The puppeteers behind this production continue to refine the grammar of the glove puppet—its snap, tilt, and playful “coup de bâton”—with fresh timing, nuanced character voices, and meticulously tuned rhythms that keep both children and adults engaged. Recent creative work has focused on storytelling that feels immediately accessible to new audiences while honoring the clever social satire that defines Guignol: everyday problems turned on their head, a gentle sense of justice, and a quick wit that invites laughter and participation. New scenic elements—miniature shutters, market stalls, and city corners—evoke Lyon’s streets as a child might imagine them, while updated lighting cues craft a warm, legible picture for small eyes. We have also seen a renewed attention to sound: snatches of melody, percussive footsteps, and subtle environmental cues give each scene a lively musicality. From our vantage point in SALLE 2 - THEATRE MAISON DE GUIGNOL, the show’s current iteration balances tradition and invention, letting children marvel at the visible magic of hands, wood, and cloth, while parents appreciate the deftness with which the performers sustain pace, humor, and heart.

Our role is to make the experience surrounding Mon Premier Guignol as welcoming as the performance itself. In SALLE 2 - THEATRE MAISON DE GUIGNOL, sightlines are optimized for small viewers, and the house team is attentive to the needs of families discovering theatre together. We keep transitions smooth, from the moment you step into the foyer with its displays of poster art and historic silhouettes, to the moment the curtain rises and the audience’s collective gasp becomes part of the show’s music. The production is ideal for a first encounter with live arts: it gently encourages call-and-response, invites empathy for characters who learn through mistakes, and models the simple joys of craft and human connection. Behind the scenes, ongoing artistic activity includes the maintenance of heritage puppets, the crafting of new figures, and a lively exchange of ideas between puppeteers about how to translate Guignol’s classic spirit for today’s families. We see the results on stage: clear storytelling, playful improvisation that acknowledges the room, and a rhythm that makes children lean forward rather than fidget. Seats in SALLE 2 are limited, and that intimacy is intentional—it preserves the immediacy that makes Mon Premier Guignol so memorable and ensures that each child feels close to the action and, by extension, to the centuries-old Lyonnais tradition they are meeting for the very first time.