The grandchildren of Antoine and Yvonne Moritz, founders of the real Guignol theater in Lyon, have taken up the torch.
In February, Florence Vallin and her brother Rémy opened a second castle within the Grand-Hôtel-Dieu in order to "bring Lyon's heritage to life".
Report behind the scenes of the theater.
“I was born into it… It's like circus people”.
Child of the ball, Florence Vallin officially launched herself into the profession of puppeteer at the age of 15.
"It was when my grandfather died," she says, her voice full of emotion.
There were compelling needs.
That's how I started getting involved in theatre.
“To support his” grandmother “and maintain the family castle.
For forty-two years, Florence has lovingly manipulated the characters so dearly hatched by "Pipa", Antoine Moritz and his fenotte "L'Yvonne", the founders of the real Guignol theater in Lyon.
The one that has been installed since 1948 in the green setting of the Tête d'Or park.
Yvonne left in 2017. But her grandchildren took over.
In February, they opened a second castle within the Grand Hôtel-Dieu in order to “bring Lyon’s heritage to life”.
Classic repertoire
“This curtain, for example, is 80 years old.
He did not move, ”underlines with admiration Thierry Fillon, intermittent of the show touching the thick burgundy fabric.
“Here, it's the same accessories that my grandparents used, the same sets, the same hand-painted pictures.
And he is probably over 100 years old, ”continues Florence Vallin, pointing to the character of Gnafron that she still holds in her hand.
A century, but not a wrinkle.
“His head made of linden wood is regularly repainted.
On the other hand, the framework has not changed”, explains the puppeteer.
The proposed parts either, in part.
“We play about ten of them from the classical repertoire.
Never on the same day, but they shoot on both sites,” adds his brother Rémy Vallin.
The demand is there.
On weekdays, school groups flock.
immoderate love
“The first time I got my hands on a puppet, I didn't know anything about it.
But it was a shock, a revelation.
All of a sudden an immoderate love was born,” confides Thierry Fillon.
And to add to the address of his colleague Nathalie Kess: “We can go so far as to share 7 characters each”.
“When you put on the puppet, you chain the male and female voices.
We go from one to the other, sometimes in the same song, confirms the person concerned.
Upstream, we search until we find the right timbre… We have a love for these characters.
»
The troupe's credo: rely on traditions to perpetuate culture.
“We draw the lifeblood of our future from the past,” smiles Nathalie mischievously, borrowing a phrase from her Madelon character.
“Guignol remains contemporary.
He always talks about current events.
It belongs to the heritage and it is not about to disappear”, concludes Florence Vallin.
The proof, the sessions offered in October at the Parc de la Tête d'Or, during the holidays, were all sold out.
Lyons
Lyon: Guignol's "real theatre" will move to the Hôtel-Dieu
Culture
Lyon: The Museum of Automatons definitely lowers the curtain
Six sessions per week
The troupe performs three days a week at the Grand-Hôtel-Dieu, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with two performances a day.
One at 3 p.m. and the other at 5 p.m.
During school holidays, performances will take place 7 days a week with a third session added at 11:30 am.
Admission: 7 euros for children, 8 euros for adults.
Culture
Heritage
Theater
Lyons
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
0 comment
0 share
Share on Messenger
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on Flipboard
Share on Pinterest
Share on Linkedin
Send by Mail
To safeguard
A fault ?
To print